Learning how to learn:

Learning is the most important single activity done by a newborn animal. This ability to learn new skills and techniques determines the quality of its survival. Human beings have institutionalized this activity in the form of schools and colleges. However how to learn is never taught in the schools, as it is taken almost for granted that “Teachers teach and students learn”. This is not so. As every teacher knows that nobody can teach unless somebody wants to learn. In fact one who wants to learn will learn even if nobody is there to teach him. The story of Eklavya is a pointer in this direction.

Extreme emphasis is given on memorization in today’s education and understanding takes a backseat in the process. A thing which is well understood is better memorized is forgotten. Therefore we must know the prerequisites of understanding. To understand any given situation the mind has to be still. A still mind focuses in an instant and can stay focussed for a long time. The best way to focus mind is simple abdominal breathing. Anybody whose breathing is disturbed is unable to focus and thus unable to understand. Pain can suddenly focus the mind as all of us know a sudden slap on the back or bottom makes us immediately focussed. Many tennis players slap themselves to bring their attention to the moment. However giving pain to somebody or even to oneself is a violent act and as such should not be used unless an exceptional situation demands it.

Once the mind is still and therefore focussed information can be transferred audio visually or kinesthetically. There are many types of students and there are many different ways in which a student can absorb information, analyze it, understand its significance and synthesize it as per his or her requirement for future use. A large number of students are unable to absorb information simply through audiovisual means. These students learn only through actual use of their body and not only through the use of two senses. Thus while teaching division by simply telling the students that twenty five mangoes are to be evenly distributed amongst five students is not sufficient information for these students unless physically this is done. They are unable to comprehend how come each gets five mangoes unless they actually physically feel this happening. Given today’s overcrowded schools imparting knowledge kinesthetically appears impossible. However some thought must be given to this handicap of many students.

Mind gets focussed simply if the situation is interesting or threatening to the individual. It is easy to threaten small children but it is very difficult to attract their interest. Here lies the trick with which a teacher becomes successful. Any subject that is made interesting is easily learnt by the students. This requires great understanding of the subject, acting talents, communication skills and many other lesser attributes.

In teaching physical skills “doing” and “happening” has to be properly understood. When a student is learning to make a serve in tennis he is trying to do something repeatedly. Initially he or she may not be able to connect but suddenly it is possible to connect without any apparent reason. This is “happening”. This happening leaves a memory trail in our brain that lasts for a few seconds. This is the time to mentally repeat the movement to strengthen that trail so that this happening can be brought into doing. Once any movement can be done at will the student has to persevere and wait for further happenings that can be brought into doings.

Awareness is continuous, simultaneous, nonjudgmental and if possible total perception of internal and external environment. Learning needs great awareness, which may not be there with an average student. However awareness is one quality which can be transferred from one person to the other. If teachers are aware and become more and more aware, their presence works like a catalyst and the students become more and more aware. This is much like a flame being transferred from one wick to the other and nothing diminishes from the lit wick but everything changes for the unlit wick.

Prerequisite of learning is to know how to learn. Simply pouring information from a book or a computer means little in terms of learning. The students attention can be trapped in as many ways as there are teachers but the ultimate learning can happen if the recipient of this information can analyze it resynthesize it and turn it into knowledge out of understanding. Great teachers are those who simply induce in their students a state of awareness which leads to learning. They really teach without teaching.