1. WHAT IS LEARNING???
EQ: How do we know what we know and how does that tie into our learning???

2. I. What is Learning…
First, Think of something that you know you learned. How did you learn this?
Second, think of something you know but you did not learn? How do you know this?
Finally, think of something you know, but are not aware of when/how you learned it. What makes the most sense to you?

3. II. A Psychological Definition of Learning
DEF: The modification of pre- existing behavior or understanding through new experiences
Sometimes these new experiences can be purposeful like when we take a class at the college
Other times, these experiences are not expected, like when your soul mate dumps you for your BFF.
In both of these examples, we are learning.

4. What is Learning? Try this activity!
Which of these situations are examples of learning and which are not?

5. What is learning? The acquisition of language in children.
The cessation of thumb sucking by an infant.
A computer game generates random moves for its first 100 chess games and tabulates the outcomes of those games.
Mia stays up late the night before her SAT and consumes large quantities of coffee. Her scores are not sufficient to gain admission into the college of her choice. The next time she takes the SAT, she gets to bed early, eats a healthy breakfast and gets to the test site 30 minutes before the test. Her score improves.

6. What is learning?
A previously psychotic patient is given a particularly effective drug that calms symptoms.
A lanky zinnia plant is pinched back and begins to grow denser foliage and flowers.
After pondering over a difficult puzzle for hours, Mike finally figures it out. From that point on, he can solve all similar puzzles very quickly.
After 30 years of smoking two packs a day, Zeke throws away his cigarettes and never smokes again.
Original source: Rocklin, T. Defining Learning: Two classroom activities. Teaching of Psychology, 14, 228.