What are the unschooling beliefs about learning?
Learning is defined as acquisition or modification of knowledge, skills, behavior, beliefs and values and it also shapes our preferences. My schooled mind used to believe that the number of degrees and certificates mark my learnedness. I had many pre-conceived notions about learning which were challenged once we started unschooling. My reflections over the past three years of unschooling reshaped my understanding of 'learning' and here are my new beliefs about this evergreen phenomena that keeps me alive. In our unschooling journey - my children have freedom to be and do and learn whatever they want to. They follow their curiosity and their interest in learning and these beliefs guide me in my way of life.
Belief 1: Every human being is learning all the time. We start learning the second we are born. Learning continues all through out our life. Age isn't a barrier to learning.
Belief 2: Every living moment provides an opportunity to learn. Hence learning is not confined to classrooms and various learning programs.
Belief 3: Learning takes place when you are curious and interested in something and takes you to as much depth or extent you want to traverse.
Belief 4: Learning takes place through our senses. Our senses of touch, taste, hearing, smell and sight provide us with the stimuli. We process the stimuli in our brains using our past experiences and existing knowledge. We either reaffirm what we know, question our existing knowledge, create new knowledge or simply add on to what we already know.
Belief 5: Every being has a different learning style. Learning is a combination of many different styles such as auditory, kinesthetic, musical, visual, verbal, mathematical, mechanical etc.
Belief 6: Every being also follows their own unique pace in learning. Hence comparison and competition are futile exercises.
Belief 7: Freedom enhances learning. Forced learning or learning something as decided and controlled by someone else may result in you just memorizing data and complying and conditioning ourselves to do things we might do differently otherwise.
Belief 8: Children or adults do not need text books and age specific syllabus to learn about various concepts. They have the resources to find multiple resources to gain more information or develop skills.
Belief 9: Unlimited free play is an important tool for learning. When I say free play, it means play without any supervision from an adult. In case adults engage in free play with children, they need to keep away any notion of superiority, supervision and control.
Belief 10: We use the tools of the culture to learn. These tools may vary for every child, depending on the culture they are part of. Gadgets including laptops, IPad, PCs, smart phones are all tools of our current universal culture.
Belief 11: Learning shapes and reshapes our values and belief systems and this in turn impacts decision making and the alignment of the head, heart and the core.
All in all staying in alignment with our body, soul and mind is the crux of learning. Learning helps us maintain a balance between the three and keeps us aligned. This alignment keeps us happy as it helps us make decisions which we thrive upon.
Belief 1: Every human being is learning all the time. We start learning the second we are born. Learning continues all through out our life. Age isn't a barrier to learning. Belief 2: Every living moment provides an opportunity to learn. Hence learning is not confined to classrooms and various learning programs.
Belief 3: Learning takes place when you are curious and interested in something and takes you to as much depth or extent you want to traverse.
Belief 4: Learning takes place through our senses. Our senses of touch, taste, hearing, smell and sight provide us with the stimuli. We process the stimuli in our brains using our past experiences and existing knowledge. We either reaffirm what we know, question our existing knowledge, create new knowledge or simply add on to what we already know.
Belief 5: Every being has a different learning style. Learning is a combination of many different styles such as auditory, kinesthetic, musical, visual, verbal, mathematical, mechanical etc.
Belief 6: Every being also follows their own unique pace in learning. Hence comparison and competition are futile exercises.
Belief 7: Freedom enhances learning. Forced learning or learning something as decided and controlled by someone else may result in you just memorizing data and complying and conditioning ourselves to do things we might do differently otherwise.
Belief 8: Children or adults do not need text books and age specific syllabus to learn about various concepts. They have the resources to find multiple resources to gain more information or develop skills.
Belief 9: Unlimited free play is an important tool for learning. When I say free play, it means play without any supervision from an adult. In case adults engage in free play with children, they need to keep away any notion of superiority, supervision and control.
Belief 10: We use the tools of the culture to learn. These tools may vary for every child, depending on the culture they are part of. Gadgets including laptops, IPad, PCs, smart phones are all tools of our current universal culture.
Belief 11: Learning shapes and reshapes our values and belief systems and this in turn impacts decision making and the alignment of the head, heart and the core.
All in all staying in alignment with our body, soul and mind is the crux of learning. Learning helps us maintain a balance between the three and keeps us aligned. This alignment keeps us happy as it helps us make decisions which we thrive upon.
Originally posted on Facebook on April 21, 2020
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