Anita Habók: Learning to learn in order to acquire meaningful knowledge

This paper discusses the field of meaningful learning and learning to learn. The literature of both concepts is rich. The paper aims to introduce the major trends and theories and to identify the points where the two areas overlap. The topic is all the more relevant because the results of international and Hungarian studies have pointed out that Hungarian students are not successful learners, they solve everyday problems with difficulties, and thus there is a need for a change of focus in their learning. In European Union documents, the themes of learning to learn and learning abilities have appeared, but school based instruction has an emphatic role in the implementation of programs. It is impossible to learn all the knowledge we will need in the future, and this highlights the importance to acquire learning abilities to engage in meaningful learning. There is a need for a change in the course of the teaching-learning process, which progresses from the emphasis on receptive, not meaningful learning to discoveries and meaningful learning. Rote learning of the study materials is not effective in the long run. Instruction in the school pay greater attention to the application of knowledge so that the knowledge acquired would be integrated into the students' cognitive structures, creating connections that facilitate retrieval, assist in the establishment of further learning and help students in the acquisition of applicable knowledge.

MAGYAR PEDAGÓGIA 104. Number 4. 443-470. (2004)

Levelezési cím / Address for correspondence: Habók Anita, Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Neveléstudományi Doktori Iskola, H–6722 Szeged, Petőfi S. sgt. 30–34.

 
PDF