Newsletter 005: Purposeful Application

In the previous newsletter, I discussed schema, conceptual models, and learning. Schema are small parts of knowledge and skills; combining schema creates conceptual models. These ideas combine to form my definition for learning: “Learning is the process of creating, modifying, linking, and applying conceptual models.”

Here is Belcher’s Model for Learning (yes, I’m continuing to send this image in every email — returning to the same image with more information is how we create strong conceptual models!)

Ideas

The Model for Learning has an output of purposeful application — practicing and performing to use the knowledge and skills in your conceptual models.

There are many parts to purposeful application; I’m going to highlight three parts in this newsletter.

Checking with the “Real World”

As you purposefully apply the knowledge and skills in conceptual models, there are three outcomes:

• Purposeful application → Negative results → Change or deepen the knowledge and skills in the conceptual models
• Purposeful application → Neutral results → Repeat the purposeful application to get more information
• Purposeful application → Positive results → Continue to use…