An exercise in learning how we learn to understand Project Zero Classroom Summer School on TfU 1998 – 2007

Understanding : making it visible in your own learning What do you understand really well? How did you come to that understanding? How do you know you understand it?

What do I understand really well? My wife My students Playing drums My students Shopping Whiskey Money Problem solving Management Teach technophobic teachers Collaboration Mental models English foreign language My job: school to school connection How to make thinking visible Leadership Football Computers How to work in collaboration Make food My family My dog Simple maths

How did I develop that understanding? Experience Being one myself i.e. student; questioning, talking formally and informally Listening to records, practice Do it in my teaching Over many years Repetition and observation Experience Interest Relevance Involvement Care Failing heroically; making mistakes Reading about it Listening to elders Teaching Patience; passion; endurance

How do I know I understand my chosen topic? Comfortable working with other musicians, can play together Treated as an expert; asked for recommendations Satisfied with my situation Feedback Relationship Love it! Want to learn more. Reaching levels of automaticity When I can apply what I understand to others and they can understand Results- outputs, spin offs, empowerment of others Can take a mental model of the situation and operate in another Through the actions of those impacted Paid money; treated as expert

Implications for your teaching/learning? Name the parts Focus on teaching and learning; combine theory and practice Active process Informal and formal ways of learning How to get them active

Implications for student learning?