isms

Learning can take place anywhere and at anytime. It often involves play and action. Learning can be done alone or in groups.
There is not a singular road to knowledge. I believe in a sort of interdisciplinary approach. One subject, idea or issue can be approached and discovered via many different avenues.
Also, all people have a different setting that is most comfortable to them. Some may learn well in a classroom. Others may learn by doing. Personally, I try to get the information as it approaches, but I have to let it gestate for a while before I actually feel like I’ve “learned.” Usually, my EUREKA moments come when I’m having fun…some synapse is triggered or something opens up for me. In other words I just want to play all of the time!
These were my initial thoughts when first asked to think about how I learn and what I believe about learning. It has taken my entire life to make the progression from behaviorism to constructivism. Of course all the “isms” (with cognitive) in the middle are evident still. I certainly see the value of behaviorism in libraries. I mean, where would we be without late fees? But I think it’s important for every librarian to embrace some element of constructivism. Actually, after having explored these theories in class, I have been reminded that I should thank my lucky stars for my experiences as an Interdisciplinary Studies major at ASU for. My behaviorist shell cracked open after my first IDS class, and the crack continues to get bigger and bigger. Yes, I am comfortable with comparing myself to a nut. It’s funny how behaviorism seems like the simplest and most basic of the “isms”, however, when thinking about basics I think of how young children learn. The through doing, play, and creative collaboration with their teacher (aka parent), so the whole triad of “isms” kind of come full circle in a certain way.