Process and Product Learning By: Shuhudha Rizwan (2007)

How would you describe a well educated person? Select the best electrician. a.Ahmed has just graduated from the college with a masters degree in electrical engineering. He was so good in his studies that was selected as the best student in his class. b.After completing grade 7, Hamid joined the powerhouse in his island and now he is an expert in solving almost every problem that the island people or the powerhouse can have regarding electricity. c.Rashid, after completing his diploma in electrical engineering, joined the powerhouse in his island a few years ago. He hasn’t faced any problems that he cannot solve using his experience and what he has studied from his course.

What is learning? Different people view learning differently. Some conceptions of learning: -Learning is increasing knowledge -Learning is memorizing or storing information that can be reproduced. -Learning is acquiring facts, skills and methods that can be retained and used as necessary. -Learning is making sense of things by relating them to what is being learnt and to the real world. -Learning is comprehending the world by reinterpreting knowledge.

Learning as a product Learning is viewed as something external. Something that just happens or is done to you by teachers Something like shopping. People go out and buy knowledge - it becomes their possession. People learn to get a good grade or a certificate.

Learning as a process Learning is viewed as something 'internal' or personal. It is something that you do in order to understand the real world. It is a tool for survival.

Process learning can take place in two different ways. 1.Task-conscious or acquisition learning 2.Learning-conscious or formalized learning.

Task-conscious or acquisition learning Acquisition learning takes place all the time. It is concrete, immediate and confined to a specific activity It is not concerned with general principles Example: Many people learn cooking without attending to classes or without learning the theories of cooking. As the learner acquires the skill, he/she may not be conscious of learning, but will be aware of the specific task in hand.

Learning-conscious or formalized learning Formalized learning arises from the process of facilitating learning. This is 'educative learning' rather than the accumulation of experience. To this extent there is a consciousness of learning - people are aware that the task they are engaged in requires learning. What formalized learning does is to make learning more conscious in order to enhance it It involves guided episodes of learning.