Deep Understanding

How do we gain understanding? On a superficial level, we use our senses. Our senses, which we often take for granted, play a crucial role. We know not to touch the stove hotplate and that looking both ways before crossing a busy street is a good idea, thanks to our senses.

Where did this understanding come from? We picked it up from others. Recall the time your child was learning to walk. Did you assist? Of course, you did. You held their hand, helped them get their balance, and moved stuff out of their way. Your role was crucial in their learning journey.

Similarly, you guided their efforts when they were learning to talk. You fed the correct word back to them without thinking about it.

You, dear parent, demonstrated your own system of deep understanding. We teachers go on about it all the time. Deep understanding means just what it says. No matter the language we speak, each of us has a deep understanding of how that language works.

We understand it so well we teach it to dogs: sit, stay, come. Once the dog understands the command, it does as it’s asked. (mostly)

I think we get tripped up when we formalise the understanding process. Take reading, for instance. Children love bedtime stories, and there is a wondrous joy in reading to them at this time of day. It is magical.

The formal learning environment of school can turn a magical experience into a dull process. Until next time …