Meaningful learning refers to the concept that learned knowledge is fully understood and how their new understanding relates to ideas previously known. The reading for this week, “What is meaningful learning?”, by Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R.M., Crismond, D. (2008), looks at students using tasks that require intentional, active, constructive, cooperative and authentic learning processes, which will result in more meaningful learning. The text also looks at the role of technology in creating meangingful learning.

Meaningful learning occurs when students have the ability to undertake activities that require them to be active, constructive, intentional, authentic and cooperative. When children undertake activities using these 5 aspects they will gain a better understanding and a greater appreciation with the result. 

In active learning students learn through manipulating objects in the environment, observing the effects of their interventions and constructing their own interpretations. For example, when learning to play T-ball students do not need to learn theories on how to hit the ball. They merely strike the ball with the bat with an amount of force and see how far the ball will go. They can then learn by cause and effect that if you change the force of the swing you change how far the ball will go.

Constructive learning is the child’s ability to reflect on their own activity. A new lesson will cause them to be puzzled which then results in meaning making. As children reflect on puzzling experiences they integrate their new experiences with prior knowledge. For example, when hitting the ball, with little force the ball will just fall off the T, the children then realise that in order to make the ball go the distance they must hit it as hard as they hit it the first time.

Intentional learning allows learners to actively try to solve a task to accomplish a goal. Technology needs to be able to engage learners in articulating and representing their understanding . They will be able to use the knowledge that they have constructed, in new situations. Games on the internet provide real-life experiences to situations that many people will never experience out in the real world. The learning federation as various games that children can play and get involved in the actual experience. One example is a game about the Gold Rush, children become one of the characters whose family came to Ballarat in 1865, at the height of the gold rush. In this game they get to mine for gold; buy miners permits, tools and enough supplies to last a month; and discover how hard life on the Goldfields really was.

Gold Rush Game, from the learning federation

Authentic learning is not just learning a formula and then applying it to the problem just to get the right answer. It is learning tasks that are situated in some meaningful real-world task or simulated, these are better understood and remembered and can be transferred to other real life situations. I feel that authentic activities are the most important activities that a teacher can bring to their classroom. It does not need to be technologically based, but using technology to simulate real life situations is ideal. The Gold rush game is a good example of this as the children get to experience the Gold Rush from a perspective other than books. Another game from the learning federation that I will most probably use in my classroom is called Fish Market. Children get the opportunity compare market prices, supply and demand; explore a range of traders to find the best deals and open up new markets; find a rare fish; maximize their profit and reputation as a smart trader.

Fish Market Trading Game, from the learning federation

Cooperative activities allow children to become part of the knowledge building communities both in class and outside school, they learn that their are multiple ways of viewing the world and multiple solutions to most of life’s problems. Technology supports the conversational process by connecting learners together for discussion, collaboration or even assistance. This can include the use of blogs, facebook, msn, text messages, bebo, myspace or even you tube (as they can watch videos of each other).

In all these areas, technology can be used as it can represent learners ideas, understandings and beliefs and can also be used to access needed information. Students can compare perspectives, beliefs and worldwide views; present meaningful real-world problems and collaborate with others around the world.

Reference List:

Jonassen, D. et.al. (2008) Meaningful Learning with Technology.