The Way I Learn

A Cognitive Apprenticeship is a new idea for me. But it makes sense. Instead of learning by doing some kind of physical skill, you learn by observing and repeating mental patterns.

Working with technology really does provide interesting predicaments, as far as internships go. In my experience, it really is difficult to learn how to use technology from someone else, because of how "internal" the process really is. You can tell someone to click on the "Submit" link, but even if you try you can't tell them exactly where it is or exactly where to click it. They have to go through the process for themselves before they truly figure it out. I've shadowed several people using computers over the past few years. During the most recent shadowing experience, as an intern in graphic design, I found that observing another designer manipulate software was boring, did not challenge my mind, and although it was easy to watch, it prepared me very little for the design work I did later. When I was left to myself, I had to learn all over again how to use the software because it was my own experience instead of my designer's experience. Had I been learning to saw wood, on the other hand, I would have probably been asked to participate in the experience, placing my hands on the wood and tools instead of trying to read a person's mind to try to figure out what colors to use, what keys on the keyboard to touch for appropriate shortcuts, and how to achieve the company's desired graphic. I am glad someone has made a differentiation between traditional internships and cognitive internships. But I think perhaps we need to learn how to provide cognitive internships in a more accessible manner.

One one particularly trying day of my undergradate career, being bogged down by a difficult experience, I found myself crying in the Library amongst the shelves of children's literature. One particular yellow book caught my eye, called The Learning Book, by Susan Dorritt. I picked it up and began to learn about learning through the character of a young boy learning to ride a bike. The first step is that you really have to want to learn. The second step is to watch someone ride the bike. The third step is to try it. The fourth step is to pick yourself up and keep trying. At the time, I realized that I my trial was a learning experience, and although I was experiencing growing pains, I had to keep picking myself up and keep learning. But I have since learned that so much is parallel to this simple experience. Both in traditional and cognitive internships, you must first want to learn. Then, if you watch, you can gain a familiarity with it, and then you can try it on your own. In this they are both rather similar. Though in one progress is more easily visible than in the other, both seem to be based from these simple steps.