Characteristics of learning

The main characteristics of learning are

1. Learning is growth:

The-individual grows as he lives. This growth implies both physical as well as mental development of the learner. The individual gains experiences through various activities. These are all sources of learning. The individual grows through living and learning. Thus, growth and learning are inter-related and even synonymous.

2. Learning is adjustment:

Learning enables the individual to adjust himself properly, with the new situations. The individual faces new problems and new situations _throughout his life and learning helps him to solve the problems encountered by him. That is why; many psychologists describe learning as “a process ·of progressive adjustment to the ever changing conditions which one encounters.” The society in which we live is so complex and so dynamic that any one type of adjustment will not be suitable for all or many situations and problems. It is through learning that one could achieve the ability to adjust adequately to all situations of life.

3. Learning is purposeful:

All kinds of learning is goal- oriented. The individual acts with some purpose. He learns through activities. He gets himself interested when he is aware of his objectives to be realized through these activities. Therefore, all learning is purposive in nature.

4. Learning is experience:

The individual learns through experiences. Human life is fall of experiences. All these experiences provide new knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes. Learning is not mere acquisition of the knowledge; skills and attitudes. It is also the reorganization of experiences or the synthesis of the old experiences with the new,

5. Learning is intelligent:

Mere cramming without proper understanding does not make learning. Thus, meaningless efforts do not produce permanent results. Any work done mechanically cannot yield satisfactory learning outcomes. Learning therefore must be intelligent.

6. Learning is active:

Learning is given more importance than teaching. It implies self-activity of the learning. Without adequate motivation he cannot work whole- heartedly and motivation is therefore at the root of self- activity. Learning by doing is thus an important principle of education, and the basis of all progressive methods of education like the Project, the Dalton, the Montessori and Basic system.

7. Learning is both individual and social:

Although learning is an individual activity, it is social also. Individual mind is consciously or unconsciously affected by the group activities. Individual is influenced by his peers, friends, relatives’ parents and classmates and learns their ideas, feelings and attitudes in some way or others. The social agencies like family, church, markets, and clubs exert immense, influence on the individual minds. As such, learning becomes both individual as well as social.

8. Learning is-the product of the environment:

The individual lives in interaction of the society. Particularly, environment plays an important part in the growth and development of the individual. The physical, social, intellectual and emotional development of the child is moulded and remoulded by the objects and individuals in his environment. Therefore, emphasized that child’s environment should be made free from unhealthy and vicious matters to make it more effective for learning.

9. Learning affects the conduct of the learner:

Learning is called the modification of behaviour. It affects the learner’s behaviour and conduct. Every learning experience brings about changes in the mental structure of the learner. Therefore, attempts are made to provide such learning experiences which can mould the desired conduct and habits in the learners.

10. Habit makes learning permanent:

Learning cannot be permanent without repetition. Repetition also helps to eliminate the wrong and adopt the right attempt.