Contemplative Practices, The New Approach To Effective Learning

By Marie Turner


Contemplating on something gives you a better idea through focus on details. In order to generate greater impact during learning, contemplative practices are advocated. They make students more aware of content under dissemination which makes learning to generate a greater impact. The students identify better with the role that such content can have in their lives and the community where they come from.

Through contemplation, a learner focuses more on a subject and can thus decipher greater detail. This approach makes the focus more particular or specific. This facilitates transfer of ideas without losing the basic concept. The focus is on a specific element instead of being arbitrary. This is the way to achieve a higher intellectual analysis capability which helps in problem solving. From this approach, a learner expands his perspective of life in light of the content shared.

The understanding of materials under instructions is important in an effective learning environment. Through meditation exercises, students are more critical in contextualizing the materials under discussion and critical reasoning to discover what lies beneath the subjects being discussed. In this manner, the materials under discussion are potent and easier to understand. This is an important element in boosting retention.

Students are given the unique ability to relate with materials under discussion. They inquire into the relationships between these materials and their existence. This is an important lesson for them to understand what is to be held in high regard and also build a value system around their learning. In this way, they become valuable and cultured professionals who provide critically thought ideas to their careers and every day engagements.

The learning environment is enhanced when contemplative exercises are incorporated. The approach is subtle and personal for each session or content. This means that such exercises are only used in complimenting the curriculum. The student is alive to the environment and can relate content on offer to the methods and ethics of his or her profession. This is the genesis of greater creativity in a profession.

The pillars of using contemplation in learning are building awareness, communion and connection. These exercises are applied individually to the content being discussed. Tutors highlight the exercise that best fits a particular session, content or situation. This is a way of delivering personalized content for each subject, class and cluster of pupils. It is the genesis of creative learning.

Among the exercises used is stillness. When applied in a session, the content is first delivered after which silence is applied. It involves quieting the mind while you think about particular content, meditation, centering and actual silence. Students pay more attention to application of knowledge acquired to their real lives. This way, they devise creative ways of using this knowledge to transform their lives and those of their communities.

Creativity is also used as a contemplative exercise. It involves such activities as keeping of journals where ideas relating to a particular subject are discussed. This helps you identify a way of applying the ideas in real life. Students may also turn the content into expressive arts like a drawing. Other options include movement, activism and use of relational activities. The role of a tutor is to find a customized way of applying these techniques to simplify content and make it understandable.




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