The Learning Process Long before we were institutionalized, regimented, and equipped with number two pencils and colored notebooks; we learn by falling into mud puddles and catching tadpoles. We discover that the grass is green and sprouts between our toes and tickles the soles of our feet with whispering softness. We sport funky mustaches and know that the purple kind is best. We catch butterflies and learn that their wings are as soft as the petals of the most exquisite flower. We learned through interaction using all our senses: touch, sight, smell, hearing and by experimenting. Although we had authority figures in our lives who took care of our physical needs and stimulated our learning; we were basically free to explore and learn by watching. Understanding how we learn is as important as what we learn. The human mind has the ability to grow the brain with connecting cells called dendrites. Concentrated thinking causes the brain to rewire itself, making learning possible for anyone, young or old. According to psychologist Robert Stern, "To learn, we need the ability to organize our thoughts and coordinate them with action." This process is called metacognition" or thinking about thinking. By thinking about thinking, the tutor can stimulate the thinking process so that the student is able to arrive at answers on his or her own. (Jennings and Blakemore). Traditional learning uses a communication method that sends messages from the teacher, "an authority figure" to the students. The students do not interact with each other and the teacher has the power to direct the flow of the interaction that affect performance in the classroom. Before entering the classroom we learn a lot about...... middle of paper...... mor was an effective way to stimulate communication. Life presents us with an endless array of opportunities for learning and teaching When we stop viewing the results of our efforts as successes and failures, but as opportunities to learn and teach, a whole new world opens up from what is called “failure.” looking at the thought process and events that brought us to that point. We learn to explore other options, to become more adaptable and flexible. Let's learn to find and use the tools that will help us improve. Let's learn to learn. Works Cited Jennings, Peter and Blakemore, Bill dir. Videotape. Common miracles: The new American revolution in learning. ABC News 1993. 60 minutes. Vermette, Paul and Erickson, Deborah. “Cooperative learning in college classrooms: Three structures and seven activities.” University student diary. June 1996.