Meaningful learning: definition and importance

We can learn in many ways, but the way that more fully encompasses the emotional, motivational and cognitive dimension is called significant learning.

When this kind of learning, the way to associate previous skills and knowledge and so that new ones can be integrated into them information is carved by the motivational source and the meaning attached to what is learn. This is important, considering that the key that makes the difference between the different forms of learning is in the process of building knowledge.

An approach to the idea of ​​meaningful learning

Meaningful learning involves a process in which the person collects information, selects it, organizes it and establishes relationships with the knowledge that they previously had. Thus, this learning occurs when the new content relates to our lived experiences and other acquired knowledge over time having the motivation and personal beliefs about what is important to learn a very relevant role. This entails endowing the new knowledge with a unique meaning for each person, since each one of us has our life history.

When meaningful learning occurs, the mental models created through time and experience determine how we will view information and how we will manage it. To put it in some way, our way of internalizing what is learned and endowing it with meaning gives us an idea of ​​the “glasses” with which we see reality, and vice versa.

The emotional dimension of learning

The process of attributing a personal meaning to what we learn goes through a more affective and emotional dimension that which we usually associate with the "technical" learning of a subject, in which it is simply repeated, practiced and memorized.

It is not just about retaining information in memory for a period of time and then releasing it as it could be in an exam answer: the purpose is to give a personal meaning to the knowledge, to be able to explain it in your own words, and even, once the meaningful learning is done, create new knowledge through it.

Thus, the difference between the significant learning and a repetitive learning It refers to the relationship, or not, of the material to be learned with the previous knowledge. Meaningful and non-arbitrary relationships, that is, if it is possible to relate to prior knowledge, some meanings can be attributed, of which a mind map of knowledge. In this way, it is possible to modify the cognitive structure, something that repetitive learning would not do, since it can only be maintained for a short period of time.

Two factors to consider

For learning to be meaningful, two conditions must be met. The content must be potentially meaningful from these aspects:

1. Logical significance

At the level of the internal structure of knowledge, it must be relevant and clearly organized.

2. Psychological significance

From the ability to assimilate it, the relevant and relatable elements must exist within the cognitive structure with the learning material. Therefore, there must be a favorable disposition to learn the new material and relate it to what you already know previously.

Comprehensive memorization

It is obvious that to carry out an apprenticeship, not only must the material exist, but also the components motivational and emotional are key to a good disposition to learn and relationship between concepts. It is not only individual abilities to acquire knowledge at stake, in terms of maturation or cognitive competence.

In order to consolidate this new knowledge thanks to meaningful learning, it is necessary to comprehensive memorization. Constructing new meanings implies modifying the previous ones and adding new elements to form relationships. Memorization is comprehensive because the constructed meanings modify, add and enrich cognitive schemes.

In addition, the modification of cognitive schemes produced by the achievement of significant learning is related directly with the functionality of the learning carried out, that is, with the possibility of using what has been learned to face new situations.

When what is learned has meaning, it is not only more pleasant to expand knowledge: in addition, these stay well in thememoryand can lead to better solutions.

Bibliographic references:

• Coll, C., Palacios. J, Marchesi, A. (2004). Psychological development and education, (2). Madrid: Alliance