What We Know About Learning

This is a combination re-post and new post. When originally posted I had failed to reference the folks that I had gleaned the "People learn best" list from (see below). I know that some of the list is from author Jay Cross and I believe there are a few bullets from author and learning leader Roger Shank. My bad for missing the reference originally. It was accidental. The list is below.

Having had this brought to my attention, it got me thinking about plagurism, then people in general, then the Learning Democracy. I had a similar experience in the past where someone had posted something I had originally written and failed to reference me. I quietly sent them an email mentioning this oversight and they quicky rectified things. My first reaction when seeing it was that it was a mistake. I tend to look at people as mostly honest, out there working hard every day to do the right thing for themselves, their families, their friends, their employer. I believe that when people know what the right thing is, most do it. They want to do the right thing. They want to take responsibility for their lives, their career. And that's where the Learning Democracy concept fits into this story. Most people want to be successful in their careers. They want to do the right thing. They may need guidance in finding the learning content they need, or a little nudge, but if they understand the importance, the impact, and can maintain control of how, when and where, they will do the right thing. I truly believe that. Sure there are some bad apples out there, but at some point they'll fall off the tree and roll away, and even they have the potential to bring life to a new tree.

Here's is the list, again, my apologies to Jay and Roger . . . 

 

People learn best when they:

• Know what’s in it for them and deem it relevant
• Understand what’s expected of them
• Connect with other people
• Are challenged to make choices
• Feel safe about showing what they do and do not know
• Receive information in small packets
• Get frequent progress reports
• Learn things close to the time they need them
• Are encouraged by coaches or mentors
• Learn from a variety of modalities
• Teach others
• Get positive reinforcement for small victories
• Make and correct mistakes
• Try, try, and try again
• Reflect on learning and apply it’s lessons
• Experience a situation, decide how to deal with the issues that arise in that situation, and are coached through their mistakes by experts.

 

Comments

[Jay Cross]

Craig, I believe in sharing ideas broadly, widely, openly. It's good for the world. Good for one's karma. I love the concept of Learning Democracy.

I've posted my thoughts and articles and books on the web for more than a dozen years. I count myself among the first edu-bloggers. I encourage people to take my ideas. use them. improve them. all I ask is that if you borrow heavily or quote me, attribute the source.

We agree thus far. However, let's be clear: your list is word-for-word from a white paper I wrote. Not re-interpreted. Copied. Your re-run of the list does not link to the source, although I posted that URL here earlier. When you borrow, you must attribute.

Don't worry about this one, Craig. I've read entire chapters of my books with no attribution, ofttimes passing with bloggers passing it off as their own work. I doubt that you knew the source of the list above (off the top of my head) when you posted it.

I learned online community during the heyday of the WeLL. One
basic rule was that you could not re-write history. Once a comment was posted, it was there unless deleted ("scribbled") by the author. I think that fosters a Learning Democracy, as you call it. Eliminates the post-game spin.

I'm suggesting you respond to this comment below rather than bury it.

All the best!

jay

[Craig Dadoly]

Thanks for the great comment Jay. Please repost the link to your original source if you have a chance. I didn't republish the list from that source (never saw it before), but found the list floating around somewhere else. As mentioned previously, it should have been referenced when first posted. I have since deleted that post (probably should have just edited the original post, but didn't think about that until after I clicked delete) and republished the list in a new post (above) generally referencing you and Roger Schank. I'm usually pretty good about referencing folks . . . except this time. Thanks again for the comment and for all the great stuff you put out in the learning space. One day a "Learning Democracy" will take hold thanks to the thought provoking ideas that folks like you, Roger, Wayne Hodgins, Elliott Masie and Dan Pink, have shared.

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