Being Present Determines Success in e-Learning

Written by Catherine Franz


By Catherine Franz

e-Learning requiresrepparttar same six basic steps as classroom or self-study learning. Educational researchers tell us that each step, I preferrepparttar 109265 word stage, each stage is independent ofrepparttar 109266 other, nonlinear, and open torepparttar 109267 amount of time spent in processing. The person’s tenure in each stage depends on their state, physiologically and mentally, emotional depth, topic, presentation and environment.

1. Knowledge requires absorbingrepparttar 109268 new information with openness and nonjudgment. Letting go of whether we agree or disagree withrepparttar 109269 knowledge is important torepparttar 109270 success of what we learn. Our beliefs play strong resonance on whether we are open or closed when we first receiverepparttar 109271 information. Past experiences, culture, and environment to which this knowledge is shared plays into how open or closedrepparttar 109272 receipt ofrepparttar 109273 information can be. Effectiveness depends in allowingrepparttar 109274 knowledge to filter in through a charge-neutral state. The information is what it is at that moment and nothing more -- at least not yet. Patience does play onrepparttar 109275 outcome of this stage.

2. Comprehension isrepparttar 109276 stage of interpretation. This isrepparttar 109277 time to remain inrepparttar 109278 present moment and still nonjudgmental. You don't want to allowrepparttar 109279 past or future to be a part of this mulling process. During this stage, we compare this to previous knowledge, experiences, as well as assumptions. Assumptions, even if not clearly defined, can bubble up or stay subconscious during this stage. Ifrepparttar 109280 information fills in a gap, it mixes easily and might or might not eliminaterepparttar 109281 need to continuerepparttar 109282 process throughrepparttar 109283 other stages. Ifrepparttar 109284 information confusesrepparttar 109285 learning, thenrepparttar 109286 other stages will reinforcerepparttar 109287 progression.

3. Analysis is breaking downrepparttar 109288 new information into smaller pieces and then measuring them individually against previous knowledge. This process isn'trepparttar 109289 easiest hill to climb. This stage is easy to say, "the heck with it," and jump ontorepparttar 109290 path of least resistance. Conversations with a teacher, mentor, coach, friend, or even a spouse allow us to side steprepparttar 109291 path and progress quicker than we normally without this wall bouncing. For instance, a dialogue might go like this: "This is how I see, understand, or comprehend this. How do you see, understand, or comprehend it?" It is just as important to continue this stage with an open mind.

A Brief Look at Attitudes-Based Learning (ABL)

Written by Dr. Alvin Chan Kok Chuen


The greatest discovery of my generation (about 1900) is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.

William James

'Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.'

Attitudes-Based Learning (or ABL, for short) is a program initiated inrepparttar year 2000 to inculcate positive attitudes and characters in children and teens in Singapore.

During that period of time, there were many incidents aroundrepparttar 109264 world that deserved our utmost attention. The rise of terrorism aroundrepparttar 109265 world was televised aroundrepparttar 109266 world andrepparttar 109267 increasing number of children and teens suffering due to drugs, physical and sexual abuse was alarming. The increase in school-related violence and incidents were reported widely, from America to Japan. Not to mention, several incidents involving teens going on a school killing spree in America.

One ofrepparttar 109268 most bizarre incidents involved a seven-year-old boy who pulled out a gun and shot dead a girl in class (in front of his Grade 1 teacher and classmates near Flint, Michigan). Associated Press, Mar 1, 2000

With so much violence and terror in our world involving children (directly or indirectly), there was a pressing need to encourage more character building education in our societies, to bring forth positive attitudes and moral values for our young.

Hence,repparttar 109269 development ofrepparttar 109270 program, Attitudes-Based Learning (ABL) was given birth in Singapore to play a positive role in remedyingrepparttar 109271 ills of our society.

In its infancy, ABL was perceived as a credible cornerstone to foster a conscious character building education in Singapore schools. But unfortunately, there was not much done to pushrepparttar 109272 idea forward due to lack of interest and financial backing in year 2000. Though for a brief period, ABL made its print debut inrepparttar 109273 first Asia’s children’s creative thinking magazine, ONE, in Singapore and Malaysia through stories that emphasized positive attitudes like kindness, determination and how one can make a difference in people’s lives.

It was only untilrepparttar 109274 year 2003 that ABL was resuscitated into its full glory and intentions. With encouragement and involvement of like-minded individuals who were fervent to build a mentally and emotionally stronger Singapore, ABL was re-engineered to serve as a holistic attitudes- transformation education program for all (though emphasis is still on young children and teens).

Inrepparttar 109275 year 2003,repparttar 109276 new and improved Attitudes-Based Learning program is not just another character building program. ABL was further dissected and analyzed by a small team of researchers. With added refinements torepparttar 109277 teaching philosophy and methodology, ABL program became more adaptive and holistic. This has greatly increasedrepparttar 109278 effectiveness of achievingrepparttar 109279 mission andrepparttar 109280 desired outcomes ofrepparttar 109281 ABL program.

It was also realized that ABL should cater for pre-schoolers, as there was insufficient providers of character building education programs for this particular age group in Singapore and Asia. With ABL being a program that infusesrepparttar 109282 dimension of self-reflection to build better self-esteem and awareness, we were confident that through interesting and thought-provoking activities (based on Harvard’s Professor Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences concept), ABL would be immensely successful in encouraging positive attitudes amongst our pre-schoolers.

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