Students learning to learn Introduction 55; ‘Have ye no’ finished with the learnin’ yet?’ 55; What is learning? 56; What is learning to learn? 57; Individuals as learners 57; Learning styles and strategies 58; The influence of the learning environment 62; Teaching learning to learn 63;

There has been extensive interest in recent years in student learning. This is not surprising given that we live in a rapidly changing world in which yesterday’s knowledge may become quickly overtaken by ideas and practices which are today largely unimagined. The need for learning has become an imperative, and academics across disciplines have devoted attention to attempting to explain the process of learning, and how it might be facilitated. This chapter will examine what is known about learning, and about learning to learn in higher education. There is considerable evidence to suggest that much can be done to facilitate students learning to learn, and that the development of critical thinking remains a central part of this. I will review the key findings, while considering the lessons for learning to learn in the context of social policy and social work programmes. This is especially as National Occupational Standards, benchmarking statements and, of course, the new social work degrees in the UK come together and at times compete with one another to set parameters for learning in social work and social policy. But first, a word about my own path in and through learning.