Characteristics of learning, training and educating
A. Learning can be unitary--- the learner responds as a 'whole person' in a unified way to the entire situation in a very simple and straightforward ways. They respond intellectually, emotionally, physically and spiritually at the same time. For example, if you don't get bitten by a mosquito you won't catch malaria.
B. Learning can be social--- it takes place in response to the environment in which there are other individuals as well as physical things.
C. Learning can be a personal process (Self-active)---This principle embodies the idea that a learner learns through their activities, like listening, visualising, recalling, memorising, reasoning, using his/her judgment and thinking.
D. Learning can be purposive-That means that learning is moving toward a goal or result.
E. Learning can be creative--For each individual, learning is not merely a summing up of previous knowledge and experience, it is a creative putting together of all the knowledge and experience of the learner
F. Learning can be transferable----whatever is learned in one context or situation will also apply in another context or situation. For example, the knowledge about the utilisation of some services such as antenatal care (ANC) will also be applied to the utilisation of other health services as well.
Steps in learning---The following steps of learning applies for children as well as for adults
- The first step is observation (watching) very carefully.
- Next, they also try to use other sensing methods like listening, touching or tasting.
- They will start to ask 'why?' 'how?' when something happens.
- The next step is to imitate or copy the same action saying, 'Let me do it myself'.
- Learning takes place by repeating the action again and again
- Children, as well as adults usually, start to ask others to observe them so they can show that they can do the activity they have just learnt.
- Perform the action for themselves, having learnt something.