It’s all we seem to talk about at the moment - learning that’s lost; kids being behind in their learning; we get hysterical about all the things kids have yet to learn.
But what kind of learning are we talking about? It’s worth being clear about that. Because there are many kinds, and not all of them happen the same way.
Here’s a list of the different kinds of learning I can think of:
There’s wow-I-never-knew-that learning.
There’s hmm-that’s-interesting learning.
There’s bash-it-into-me-until-I-get-it learning.
There’s it-slowly-dawned-on-me learning.
There’s I-didn’t-realise-until-I-stopped-and-thought-about-it learning.
There’s don’t-stop-me-I’m-hoovering-it-all-up learning.
There’s I’d-never-thought-about-it-that-way learning.
There’s knock-me-sideways learning.
There’s have-to-know-it-or-else learning.
There’s wandering-through-the-South-of-France learning.
There’s I-don’t-want-to-know-that learning.
There’s sitting-under-a-tree-and-dreaming learning.
There’s touching-it-and-feeling-it-and-knowing-it-better learning.
There’s I’m-rushing-to-know-it-before-the-due-date learning.
There’s exciting-conversation-leads-to-lightbulb-moment learning.
There’s chipping-away-until-it’s-better learning.
There’s trying-to-explain-what-I-mean-and-realising-I-don’t-quite-know-yet learning.
There’s realising-how-things-are-interconnected learning.
There’s wishing-I-knew-more-about-that learning.
There’s having-my-eyes-opened-by-something-unusual learning.
There’s stopping-and-listening-to-the-beauty-around-me learning.
There’s I-have-to-get-a-great-grade-otherwise-I-won’t-become-a-[lawyer?] learning.
There’s dancing-with-someone-and-getting-in-sync learning.
There’s being-ok-with-not-having-the-answer learning.
There’s comparing-myself-with-everyone-else learning.
There’s I-want-to-do-this-well-because-I-care-about-them learning.
There’s jumping-in-feet-first learning.
There’s damn-it-I-screwed-up learning.
There’s imitating-my-heroes learning.
There’s feeling-great-about-doing-something-tough learning.
There’s it-slowly-accumulates-through-experience learning.
There’s mucking-about-and-suddenly-seeing-something-worth-exploring learning.
There’s the-computer-says-this-is-the-next-step learning.
There’s this-is-easy learning.
There’s being-inspired-by-a-story learning.
There’s vehemently-disagreeing-with-someone learning.
There’s someone-cares-enough-to-help-me learning.
There’s I-don’t-want-to-tell-them learning.
There’s I-guess-I-have-to learning.
There’s I-didn’t-know-I-could-run-that-fast learning.
There’s trusting-that-I-can-be-myself learning.
Now, there is no doubt that the pandemic has messed with kids’ learning. The interesting question is what kinds of learning have been absent, which reduced, and which amplified? And then, what’s the result of that?
I’ll leave you to think, but would enjoy hearing your thoughts.