Deep learning, the only way to success? I don't think so!
In an article written by Annie Murphy Paul, "Secrets of the Most Successful College Students", she supports the statement by Ken Bain, that there are three types of learners: surface learners, strategic strategic learners, and deep learners; and that deep learning should be what we aim for. In the article, surface learners is described as people who do the least possible required to get by, strategic learners as people who forget about understanding the topic and focus only on getting the best possible grades, and deep learners as people who actually worked for their grades and understood the concepts they were taught. If I had to classify myself according to these types of learners, I think I would be the three of them.
For example, last semester I was surface learner for a nutrition class. I decided to took the class in the first place because I needed as a GE requirement. I though it was going to be an easy and interesting class because it was online. By week 4-5 I was already regretting choosing it. To start of, it was my first semester at SDSU, and secondly, I was taking 15 units, something I had not done in years. My educational life was a mess until I decided I was only going to do the bare minimum to pass the class. I decided to dedicate most of my time to my other classes, the “important” ones, the ones for my major. By the end of the semester I was surprise to find that even though I had been a surface learner the whole semester, I passed the class with a B.
In addition, that same semester I was also a strategic learner. I was taking Cognitive psychology, which was nothing to any other psychology class I had taken before. And again, at first I was doing everything I could to fully understand the concepts and how everything worked, until I gave up. Every time a test was approaching, I would study, study, study!! But it was more to like memorize answers rather than understanding the meaning of them.
And of course, I was also a deep learner for my psychology of personality class. Since this class involved more engaging with one another and doing practices, it was waaay more easier to understand the full concept of what I was being taught. I had fun while doing homework and would actually understand it because I simply had to answer personality questionnaires. By the end of the semester I was able to understand the top 5 types of personality; therefore I knew my personality type and others so it started being easier to get a long with other people because I knew how to approach them.
In simple words, I do not believe there is only one way to find success. I think all different types of learning are acceptable as long as you know how to work them. That overall, in college what is most important are the experiences that you gain and how you manage to use them to better yourself and consequently succeed in whatever you propose yourself to succeed in.
For example, last semester I was surface learner for a nutrition class. I decided to took the class in the first place because I needed as a GE requirement. I though it was going to be an easy and interesting class because it was online. By week 4-5 I was already regretting choosing it. To start of, it was my first semester at SDSU, and secondly, I was taking 15 units, something I had not done in years. My educational life was a mess until I decided I was only going to do the bare minimum to pass the class. I decided to dedicate most of my time to my other classes, the “important” ones, the ones for my major. By the end of the semester I was surprise to find that even though I had been a surface learner the whole semester, I passed the class with a B.
In addition, that same semester I was also a strategic learner. I was taking Cognitive psychology, which was nothing to any other psychology class I had taken before. And again, at first I was doing everything I could to fully understand the concepts and how everything worked, until I gave up. Every time a test was approaching, I would study, study, study!! But it was more to like memorize answers rather than understanding the meaning of them.
And of course, I was also a deep learner for my psychology of personality class. Since this class involved more engaging with one another and doing practices, it was waaay more easier to understand the full concept of what I was being taught. I had fun while doing homework and would actually understand it because I simply had to answer personality questionnaires. By the end of the semester I was able to understand the top 5 types of personality; therefore I knew my personality type and others so it started being easier to get a long with other people because I knew how to approach them.
In simple words, I do not believe there is only one way to find success. I think all different types of learning are acceptable as long as you know how to work them. That overall, in college what is most important are the experiences that you gain and how you manage to use them to better yourself and consequently succeed in whatever you propose yourself to succeed in.
Hello Karla,
ReplyDeleteI think that the black and white categorizing of people based on study habits is naive and I agree with you that we most likely playing all three of the roles at the same time. Like you, I might change what type of learner I am based on the class; I also change based on my mood for the same class. Study habits are constantly changing based on the situation and it takes dedication and thought to make priorities and stick to it; with that being said, it could be claimed that we are always being strategic, even when we are being a surface learner.
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ReplyDeleteHi Karla,
ReplyDeleteMy blog entry was about the exact same thing - we are all 3 types of learners. I think that success is not attained by working to be one type of learner and honing the skills of such learner. We need to do whatever we can to make it through college, balancing out priorities and classes.
Great job on your post and going through how all 3 categories pertain to you on a personal level.
-Jina Chung
Hi Karla,
ReplyDeleteIts interesting that all the blog posts I have read have said that they are all types of learners (Which I agree with). I really like how you wrapped it up saying you don't believe there is one way to find success, thats very true. I also liked how you ended saying that its the experiences and how you use them. Very good job on how you explained that you are all 3 learners. I think a lot of college students have the same experiences and we are all successful in our own ways or able to become successful.
Allyson