Insights | The Characteristics of Effective Learning（2）
18 Sep 2019
The focus of the characteristics of effective learning (CoEL) is on how children learn rather than what they learn i.e. process over outcome.
Underpinning the CoEL is the understanding that during their earliest years, children form attitudes about learning that will last a lifetime. Children who receive the right sort of support and encouragement during these years will be creative and adventurous learners throughout their lives. Children who do not receive this sort of support and interaction are likely to have a different attitude about learning later in life.
Hence, why the supportive practitioner, and the environment they provide, need to nurture these characteristics to occur, but without forgetting that children are individuals who bring their own needs, talents and histories to the learning environment.
The characteristics of effective learning are:Playing and exploring – engagement
Finding out and exploring
Playing with what they know
Being willing to have a go
Active learning – motivationBeing involved and concentrating
Children need to be fascinated by the world aroundthem and the learning opportunities presented to them. A learning environmentshould provide children with choices that respond to their interests andpreferences. In turn children will respond with curiosity and maintained focus.To become fully engrossed and enjoy the outcomes of exploration, children needtime and freedom to become involved. Don’t rush. Sit back and watch high levelsof enquiry unfold.
Keeping trying
It is ok to provide a level of challenge forchildren. If something is too easily achieved, and praise given for theachievement, then outcome becomes the goal rather than process. Some childrenmay find activities hard to master, therefore encouraging perseverance is key. Praisinga child’s concentration, their ability to try a different approach, how theyproblem solve, or has new ideas supports resilience in young learners. When weobserve young children, we find out what they like to do. This helps us to planfor their interests and makes learning more tailored to the child’s needs.Learning new skills can be frustrating for young children so helping them tokeep on trying and stick with it will be beneficial to them.
Enjoying achieving what they set out to doHelping children to become aware of their own goals,to make plans and review their own progress and successes encourages them to beproud of how they accomplished something, rather than merely celebrating theend result. Children have a right to feel satisfied in meeting their goals andshould enjoy meeting challenges for their own sake, rather than for externalrewards or praise. Children can maintain focus on things that interest themover a period of time. Adults can take photographs as a reminder of previousactivities and the shared learning journey. Remember not to clear away tooquickly – a child can’t keep trying at something if it isn’t there!
Creating and thinking critically – thinking
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