Mindful Learning
Before you continue to read this article, take a brief pause. Take a breath in. Let it go. Connect with your breath, be present in your body, and open your senses to your current experience.
Now, consider the question, “What would it mean to be mindful when learning something new?”
The term “Mindfulness” refers to a state of being aware, attentive, or alert. It was popularized by Buddhist scholar Jon Kabot-Zen, the founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program. He defines mindfulness as "the awareness that arises through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally."
Applying this concept to a learning context, a mindful learner will engage with purpose, orient to the experience of the present moment, and maintain an open mind for learning.
Let’s unpack each of these aspects and consider how we, as learners, can remain “mindful” in our learning, and how we, as learning professionals, can create conditions that foster “mindfulness” in our learners. I offer here one simple precept and example of each aspect of mindful learning in learning to play the ukulele.
Engaging with purpose
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As a Mindful Learner |
As a Mindful Learning Designer |
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Set a learning goal. State a positive intention or benefit that
will result from learning. I will be able to play a song for my family on the Ukulele. |
Help learners state their own intention or purpose in learning
(rather than just reading out the “learning objectives” of the course). Try
to make it as personal as possible. Where will you play your ukulele? |
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Orientation to the present moment
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As a Mindful Learner |
As a Mindful Learning Designer |
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Connect with the feeling of learning, in the present moment. I feel what strumming the ukulele feels like. Right now, right
here. This strum. This next strum. |
Acknowledge the past, present and future. And then, focus
learning on the present moment. Past: What types of ukulele sounds have you heard in the past? Future: What types of ukulele sounds shall we create next? Present: Strum up! Strum down! Feel the strumming and listen to
the difference between the up strum and the down strum. |
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Non-judgmental, open attitude
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As a Mindful Learner |
As a Mindful Learning Designer |
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Recognize that what you have learned so far is neither good nor bad.
Acknowledge that you can always learn more and be OK with that. Strumming feels good, even when it’s not perfect. |
Acknowledge the complexity of the topic. Mix it up so that the
learner understands there is always more to learn. Let’s try some “air-ukulele.” Set your uke aside, and as I play
this recording, pretend you are playing the song. Feel what it might feel
like to be the expert! |
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