Leah was fed up with her ten-year-old son, Vedant. He was a bright boy in his class and could answer most questions during his lessons. However, when it came to studying for his exams, the boy would struggle to memorise the topics. Consequently, his grades suffered. Leah was constantly pushing her son, sitting with him at study time, to ensure that he studied. Yet, nothing seemed to work. Then, Leah read about holistic learning in a book. She decided to use this technique to help her son. Today, Vedant finds it easier to study his lessons. His grades have also improved greatly.
What is holistic learning?
When your child studies for his exams, chances are that he is using the technique of learning by rote. This is because he has to remember a certain amount of information so that he can reproduce it for a test or exam. In this learning method, he is depending solely on his memorising skills.
Holistic learning is a different approach altogether. This technique is based on the 'whole body' approach to learning. In holistic learning, one does not use only the mind. This technique is based on the concept that an organism functions properly only when all parts coordinate and co-operate with each other in their individual functioning. The second part of this principle says that when you learn through many different senses, the overall result is a combination of the learning by all the senses. This means the more senses you use greater is the learning.
Your child will experience holistic learning right from the time he enters playschool or nursery. In these places, the focus is on teaching children using a combination of games, songs, stories, etc. This means your child learns what he is being taught using his sense of sight, sound, smell, and touch. This is the crux of holistic learning wherein an object or incident is associated with a particular sense of the body.
When your child studies for his exams, chances are that he is using the technique of learning by rote. This is because he has to remember a certain amount of information so that he can reproduce it for a test or exam. In this learning method, he is depending solely on his memorising skills.
Holistic learning is a different approach altogether. This technique is based on the 'whole body' approach to learning. In holistic learning, one does not use only the mind. This technique is based on the concept that an organism functions properly only when all parts coordinate and co-operate with each other in their individual functioning. The second part of this principle says that when you learn through many different senses, the overall result is a combination of the learning by all the senses. This means the more senses you use greater is the learning.
Your child will experience holistic learning right from the time he enters playschool or nursery. In these places, the focus is on teaching children using a combination of games, songs, stories, etc. This means your child learns what he is being taught using his sense of sight, sound, smell, and touch. This is the crux of holistic learning wherein an object or incident is associated with a particular sense of the body.
How is it different from rote learning?
As your child grows up and begins formal schooling, he is usually forced to switch to rote learning. This is because he now has to study more than when he was in preschool. This has to be achieved in the same period. In addition, some of his lessons will compulsorily require him to memorise his lessons like poetry recitation for example.
Rote learning is a form of compartmentalised learning. In this method, your child will use his mind like a filing system. He will divide his mind into sections like maths, history, science, etc. Then, he will file his information accordingly. For example, whenever he comes across an equation, he will mentally send it to the Maths section. The drawback of this system is that when he is required to recall the information, he has to sift through all the information in that section until he comes across what he is looking for. This takes a long time, and at the end of it, he may not always be able to find what he is looking for.
In contrast, holistic learning uses points of reference. In holistic learning, your child will relate the topic that he is learning to something else. Every bit of information he receives becomes a point. This point is then consciously connected to another point of information, depending on what your child feels comfortable with. The connection need not be between two points of the same subject. The points can be from two different subjects or sections as well. It all comes down to how your child wants to relate the two points.
As the points of information get connected, they start forming a framework. This way, when your child needs to recall information, all he has to do is begin at any point and then travel along the framework until he reaches the information he is looking for. For example, he may have connected a historical event distantly, with a vegetable. When he is asked the question, the first item that enters his mind could be the vegetable. From there, he will connect it to the actual event. Recalling information in this manner may take a while initially. Once your child is comfortable with the system, he will be able to focus on a point that is extremely close to the information he is looking for.
As your child grows up and begins formal schooling, he is usually forced to switch to rote learning. This is because he now has to study more than when he was in preschool. This has to be achieved in the same period. In addition, some of his lessons will compulsorily require him to memorise his lessons like poetry recitation for example.
Rote learning is a form of compartmentalised learning. In this method, your child will use his mind like a filing system. He will divide his mind into sections like maths, history, science, etc. Then, he will file his information accordingly. For example, whenever he comes across an equation, he will mentally send it to the Maths section. The drawback of this system is that when he is required to recall the information, he has to sift through all the information in that section until he comes across what he is looking for. This takes a long time, and at the end of it, he may not always be able to find what he is looking for.
In contrast, holistic learning uses points of reference. In holistic learning, your child will relate the topic that he is learning to something else. Every bit of information he receives becomes a point. This point is then consciously connected to another point of information, depending on what your child feels comfortable with. The connection need not be between two points of the same subject. The points can be from two different subjects or sections as well. It all comes down to how your child wants to relate the two points.
As the points of information get connected, they start forming a framework. This way, when your child needs to recall information, all he has to do is begin at any point and then travel along the framework until he reaches the information he is looking for. For example, he may have connected a historical event distantly, with a vegetable. When he is asked the question, the first item that enters his mind could be the vegetable. From there, he will connect it to the actual event. Recalling information in this manner may take a while initially. Once your child is comfortable with the system, he will be able to focus on a point that is extremely close to the information he is looking for.
Holistic learning is not just for the super intelligent individual. It is a method that can be learnt and customised to suit your child's needs. It will also help your child to improve how much information he retains after studying.
Great post! Holistic Learning simply makes sense in light of many of us being geared towards holistic healthcare, lifestyle, etc. I can also envision parents w/children struggling academically, rediscovering this way of learning putting their children back on the road to success!
ReplyDeleteA. Denise/ATL