Dispositions of a Über Smart Learner (part-3)
5. Self-Efficacy
6. Mindset
What are the dispositions of NeGEP – Next Generation Educated Person?
Discuss on the Forum
David Kelley on self-efficacy and creative confidence.
Carol Dweck on mindset and happiness.
You can test your Mindset using this online quiz based on Prof Carol Dweck’s work – http://mindsetonline.com/testyourmindset/step1.php
Sharing a relevant post : http://www.creativitypost.com/psychology/are_you_an_autodidact_or_do_you_need_other_people_to_learn
Thank you for sharing. The article makes interesting reading. On the study that the article quotes, “…challenge the popular assumption that it is the learner who knows best and that she or he should be the controlling force in her or his learning – there are three problems with this premise, Kirschner and van Merriënboer write. The first is that novices, by definition, don’t yet know much about the subject they’re learning, and so are ill equipped to make effective choices about what and how to learn next. The second problem is that learners “often choose what they prefer, but what they prefer is not always what is best for them;” that is, they practice tasks that they enjoy or are already proficient at, instead of tackling the more difficult tasks that would actually enhance their expertise. And third, although learners like having some options, unlimited choices quickly become frustrating—as well as mentally taxing, constraining the very learning such freedom was supposed to liberate.”
I think one major factor in favour of an autodidact is information technology. Intrinsic motivation and learner maturity is the key and if this is missing then a learner will not do well even in a guided learning environment. So assuming a learner is motivated to learn and has access to the internet then the first issue raised by the study, “Novices, by definition, don’t yet know much about the subject they’re learning” can be easily overcome with some searching and curation on the internet. On the second issue I think if the learner is mature and has the desire to do better then the learner will push boundaries and enhance performance and will not prefer status quo. On the third issue, choices may seem daunting at first but if the learner persists, calibrating the curation process to own competence level then the learner will overcome the initial sense of feeling overwhelmed.
Furthermore, I think unless a learner has access to personal tutors and mentors, even in a typical classroom scenario an unmotivated learner often chooses the path of least effort and does not push boundaries.
Of course, a young learner will need handholding and guidance but a mature, motivated learner can become an autodidact.
Caarol Dweck video has poor quality subtitles. Wonder if that could be improved?