ABSTRACT

Learning is often ‘in the head’ and an aim of the teacher is to help to make this learning visible.There are many phases to learning and there is no one way of learning or set of understandings that unravel the processes of learning; it is more a combination of phases. An often-needed requirement for this learning to occur is some form of tension, some realization of ‘not knowing’, a commitment to want to know and understand – or, as Piaget called it, some ‘state of disequilibrium’.When this occurs, most of us need assistance (from a learned other, from some resources) to then learn new material and accommodate it as part of our new understanding.There are many possible strategies with which to undertake this learning, and we certainly need to have proficiency in choosing and using these strategies, but most importantly we need to appreciate that the use of strategies requires concentration, much practice, and skills. The operative requirement to enhance student learning is for teachers to see this learning through the eyes of the students.