How "Learning Patterns" can support learning design

Let me demonstrate how to use Learning Patterns.

Take, for example, the pattern of Acceleration to Next (36). This pattern is supposed to be needed under the context like "When you are researching" or "When you are studying". The problem frequently occurred is "It not seldom happens that people slack off their efforts subconsciously just before the goal", and the solution is "Set next goal and pass through the current goal without slow down"(See more details about this pattern in this post).

A student who read this pattern may find new idea to design his / her learning activities, because pattern languages can become "concept" to comprehend the reality and amplify the ability of recognition. Thus, the method of pattern language provide the way to understand the existence of problem and the clue of the solution.

Moreover, by virtue of the name of each pattern, it is getting easier to mention some aspect of learning. With using the example above, the teacher can advice the student with using the pattern name; "Don't forget Acceleration to Next!" Otherwise, student can ask the teacher "Do you think I should increase Acceleration to Next?" Like this, pattern language contribute to increase the vocabulary about learning among teachers and students. These are the reason why pattern language is called "language" of patterns.

An Example of Learning Patterns: Acceleration to Next (36)

Final example of Learning Patterns is Acceleration to Next (36).

No.36

Acceleration to Next

Just before the goal,

people tend to press the brake pedal subconsciously.

Now is the time to set next goal

and press down on the accelerator.

• When you are making research
• When you are writing a paper
• When you are creating something
• When your activity is in the final stage
• When you are at a dead end

It not seldom happens that people slack off their efforts subconsciously just before the goal.

• Just before achieving the goal, people tend to lose their motivation, unconsciously.
• End work just before achieving the goal is tough.
• We can work hard in active, just in the process of pursuing our goal.

Set next goal and pass through the current goal without slow down.

• Think of the meaning of your activity, and imagine what you should do after achieving its goal.
• Set the next goal on the extension of your activity temporarily, and consider the immediate goal as a passing point. With an image of bigger goal, you can avoid losing the end work.

Even if you work on your activity with the mind of Passion for Research (6) and Firm Determination (38), it seems tough to achieve the project before its goal. if you are in the situation like this, it is important to put Acceleration to Next. Work on your activity with Bird's eye, Bug's eye (23) for taking the immediate goal as a part of next big goal. With "Bird's eye" for looking down a whole of your project, think of what you can do now, and take next goals. In this way, if you keep on progressing while you take your goals as passing points, you will be Be Extreme! (39).

An Example of Learning Patterns: Community of Learning (28)

Next example of Learning Patterns is Community of Learning (28).

No.28

Community of Learning

It is not necessary to study alone.

• When you begin to research
• When you begin to study
• When you are bored with study
• When you want to learn a new skill
• When you want to improve your skill

Individual’s capacity is limited.

• The time we can spend is limited.
• Everyone has their own knowledge and viewpoints.
• By getting various viewpoints, people can deepen their understandings.
• People can work harder with partners together than do alone.

Find people with common objectives and build a ‘community of learning’ to stimulate each other.

• First of all, plan for making "community of learning". For example, you plan that what kind of workshop or research project you can do.
• Gather some members of your surroundings who are interested in your plan. Then, you launch your project and make some concept and rough schedule with them.
• Decide how you show your efforts of your learning. For example, you can make a paper, and publish it on the web site or have a conference. This makes you keep your motivation.
• People can work harder with partners together than do alone.
• On the basis of this plan, accept applications for your "community of learning", preferably on a large scale beyond your acquaintances. It may be that you can gather more members who have similar interest than those of your acquaintances. Moreover, with the member of people who you don’t know, you can avoid loose meeting and keep focusing on.
• To keep the member's motivation, confirm what you have done with each other regularly. If is necessary, you should reset your goal.

There are no rolls such as teachers or students in a Community of Learning. So, they not only always has a chance of Release of Thoughts (29) and Learning by Teaching (31) as well as learn things with each other. Then, you can have Good Rival (30). In a community of learning, your Tornado of Learning (4) which consists of your interests grows together with the other member’s, and grows bigger. As a result, you can have more chances of encounter Academic Excitement! (5).

An Example of Learning Patterns: Brain Switch (22)

Here is another example of Learning Patterns; Brain Switch (22).

No.22

Brain Switch

Logic and Intuition ------ Both are absolutely essential.

• When you are making research
• When you are creating something
• When you are writing a paper
• When you need to get a new view or idea
• When you are at a dead end

Neither logic or intuition is not enough to achieve a breakthrough.

• Logical thinking (left brain) inspires acute analysis and inference and has persuasion.
• Intuitive thinking (right brain) inspires good ideas and expressions and gives impression.
• It is difficult to use both brains at the same time.

Think, switching two modes of logic and intuition.

• When you begin to think with the left brain, you think logically as deep as possible. When you begin to think with the right brain, you think intuitively as deep as possible.
• Switch your brains when you are at a dead end or think sufficiently. If you have thought with the left brain by then, try to think about beauty and wealth of expression. In contrast, if you have thought with the right brain, try to think about coherence and depth of logic. By switching brains, you can find new phases of a matter.

When you are writing something, draw pictures of that.what you express by words. When you are drawing a picture, you think about the logic of the picture. In this way, Brain Switch means switching "ways of thinking" which are logical and intuitive. In contrast, Bird's Eye, Bug's Eye (23) means switching "viewpoints". If you are used to switching ways of thinking and viewpoints, you can acquire Attractive Expression (34).

An Example of Learning Patterns: Learning Design (0)

I would like to show some examples from 40 patterns of Learning Patterns. First, I would like to start the most fundamental pattern; Learning Design (0).

No.0

Learning Design

Design your learning.

• Always when you want to learn

In complex and liquid society, it is inevitable to think how to learn.

• Human is not able to learn everything because the time is limited.
• There are several ways to study.
• People who learn effectively have a knack for good learning, which is independent on their fields or themes.

Learn the `knack' of learning from the experienced learners, and design your way of learning based on them.

• You can work on your activity with "learning patterns" which tells you the knack of effective learning.
• First, read roughly whole patterns to understand what "learning patterns" is like, especially the first half of each pattern; pattern name, introduction, illustration, and context. It is better to remember the pattern name and the illustration.
• Read the detail of patterns in which you are interested. In the last half of each pattern, there are description of "problem", difficulties why the problem is a hard to solve as "forces", "solution", and "actions" which are for solving the problem.
• You can find a learning pattern according to your situation with using the list of "context".
• Use "pattern name" of learning pattern as a common language, when you talk about learning with other students or teachers.

Design of learning is important to understand the situation you are in. This means Grasp of Community's Mind (1). Especially, understand and follow Project-Centered Learning (2), if you want to learn with excitement. As a consequence, that helps you recognize Community as "Becoming" (3). You can see the connection between your learning community and you in this way.