Learning Episode

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Learning Episode
Quinn Sinanan Neal
UNST 115C: Ways of Knowing
5th March 2016

There are many different ways of teaching that can establish a way of learning. So many
that there have been countless theories on the subject on how they pinpoint what allows someone
to learn. Many theorize that it is how someone is taught to learn and others believe that it
corresponds with how a human is developed. When reading and analyzing these theories Ive
come to the conclusion that someone can learn with the factor of how someone is taught, as well
as the way someone has developed through life to gain these teachings. To test this theory, I
decided to observe my nephew learning. His name is Dexter and he is only fifteen months old, so
I had to observe him learning a skill that many children learn at that age, which would be
learning how to eat with a utensil. The teacher of this observation was his mother who
unfortunately wanted me to disclose her name from this observation. The setup of this learning
observation was quite simple, Dexter sits in a five-foot-high chair with a bowl of scrambled
eggs, while Dexters mother stands in front of him with a bowl of cereal. This is so Dexters
mother can give him demonstrations of eating with a utensil so then Dexter can better understand
how to eat correctly. While Dexters mother began to teach Dexter, I sat at the dining table next
to them to take notes on what transpires. At first I thought it would take Dexter a decent amount
of time to figure out how to eat with the utensil correctly, but it turns out it did not take him that
long. Of course like most children his age they tend to ignore the utensils and instead try to pick
up the food with their hands. Dexter did this at first, but it did not take him long to figure out the
utensils purpose. After the observation I came up with definition of learning and that it is the

Learning Episode

final product of being determined and trustful through the guidance of a parent, teacher, or
master. I also came up with three claims that I believe do a good job of supporting this definition.
My first claim is that Learning is established when a learner is focused, motivated, and
determined to figure out what is needed to be learned. There was a point during my observation
of Dexters learning that really stuck out to me. When Dexters mother was demonstrating to him
how to eat with a utensil, I noticed that the mother kept her bowl of cereal really close to her face
whereas Dexters bowl of eggs was about ten inches away from him when it was on the table,
which was connected to Dexters high chair. Although it does not seem like a big deal, I noticed
that this mightve been hard for Dexter to understand the lesson, as it seemed to show that the
teacher and the learner do not have the equal opportunity to carry out the task of eating with a
utensil. This made me think about whether or not Dexter would be able to figure this problem out
on his own, as I noticed clearly that the mother did not mention to Dexter about keeping the bowl
closer to his face in the lesson. I personally thought that Dexter wasnt quite focused enough to
notice this difference, thus I thought that maybe today wouldnt be the day for him to fully learn
how to eat with a utensil. It turns out though that I was very wrong, Dexter focused on the
differences between how he had his bowl near him and how his mother had the bowl near
herself. He then pulled his bowl closer to himself and was able to use his Spork to scoop his eggs
and eat them without dropping any on the table as well as losing interest and instead playing with
the food, which was a common action he did throughout most of the observation. The positive
reaction he gained from himself and his mother gave enough positive reinforcement for him to
stay motivated and determined.
This type of learning reminded me of Mark Twains Life On the Mississippi, as in the
story Twain states, I went gaily along, getting prouder and prouder, for he had never left the

Learning Episode

boat in my sole charge such a length of time before. I even got to setting her and letting the
wheel go entirely, while I vaingloriously turned my back and inspected the stern marks and
hummed a tune, a sort of easy indifference which I had prodigiously admired in Bixby and other
great pilots (Twain, 1883, p. 45-46). I believe Mark gives a great example of how motivation
and determination can really affect someones way of learning. Mark Twains story Life on the
Mississippi is in a way is an observation of how he learned to pilot a steamboat, and like trying to
learn how to pilot any vehicle it always starts out pretty difficult. One of Twains problems when
trying to learn how to control a steam boat was that he had to come to the realization of the many
complexities and hardships it takes to navigate through a river. One of those complexities was
being able to memorize the shape and direction of the river, as at night the river is almost
completely invisible. When coming to this realization it almost seemed that Twains motivation
and determination to carry out this task of learning was completely diminished, making him
struggle even more when trying to memorize the river. I felt like this was the moment in the story
that really showed how his motivation and determination gave him enough confidence to really
figure out how the main point of what was to be learned. Although learning how to pilot a steam
boat can be considered by many to be completely different then learning how to eat with a utensil
I still think that the idea of being motivated and focused to can truly help to achieve any way of
learning. I think it is also good to bring up that the attention span of a fifteen-month old child is
very different from the attention span of a teenager, which was about the age of Mark Twain in
his story, so I think that in a way they were at equal footing of what they had to learn. What I
believe also supports my claim is when I thought back to the times when I had to learn many
things, some of those being how to play certain musical instruments. Certain instruments I was

Learning Episode

unable to learn do to my lack of interest, whereas instruments that I still play today were taught
to me with almost pure determination.
I will say though that although Dexter and Mark helped their learning through
motivation, I also believe that they couldnt have learned as well without trust in their teachers.
This brings me to my second claim that cooperation and trust is a prime aspect of learning at a
young age, as it gives a learner a reason to understand. Throughout the observation I noticed the
way the mother gave Dexter visual ques in her teaching. This usually included her taking a bite
of her food first than pointing at Dexters bowl of eggs, as well as Dexter himself. Dexter caught
on to this visual que pretty well, but usually made a mistake like dropping his food or eating with
his hands. It did show however, that he was fully cooperating to his mother by trying to carry out
the task that the mother instructed him to do even if at times he wasnt fully able to carry out the
operation. I personally believe that it would be impossible for myself to teach a lesson like this,
as I believe that Dexter doesnt trust his uncle as much as his parents. This is of course being do
to the fact that Dexters mother has been a caretaker for him since the day he was born, whereas I
have only baby-sat him about once a week. In Rolf E. Muusss article about Eriksons Theory of
Identity he talks about the first step of development by stating, Children learn to trust because
mother does come and take care of them regularly. They thus experience living in a predictable,
secure world in which basic needs are being satisfied (Muuss, 1988, p. 3). This further proves
the bond in which the mother and Dexter have which makes it easier for Dexter to learn through
his trust in his mother and her trust in him. In Fred Rothbaums article The Development of Close
Relationships in Japan and the United States he states that, infants derive security from the
mothers indulgence of their needs. Caregiving techniques direct the child toward a near constant

Learning Episode

union the mother (Rothbaum, 2000, p. 8). This shows once more that Dexters bond with his
mother gives him a better understanding of what is being taught.
For my third claim that supports my definition, I believe that Guided learning is an
important process of learning, as it can guide the learner with hands on training. In my
observation the way that Dexters mother guided his learning was very crucial for him to
understand the task at hand. There was a point in the observation where I noticed Dexter putting
the Spork in his mouth, even though he didnt scoop any food to begin with. When Dexter did
this the mother responded to his attempt by saying, Good try, almost. She then repeated the
example again by feeding him with the spoon again. Dexters mother did not respond to his
mistake in a negative way, but rather guided him with positive reinforcement. In Barbara
Rogoffs book Learning through Guided Participation she states, Toddlers were almost always
closely involved in the same agenda with their mothers. For example, a mother and a child might
operate an object together, or a mother might attempt to assist a child trying to operate an object.
Toddlers together with their mothers actively interpreted and participated in the definition of
situations and in the direction of activities (Rogoff, 2003, p. 185-186).
As you can see, our culture has always thrived on this way of learning. Hands on training
is not only used in youth but can be used throughout ones entire life through parenting,
schooling, and even job training. Of course there are instances in life where you may need to be
self taught certain knowledge, but a parent, teacher, or master usually teaches the most effective
knowledge. Even when thinking back to Mark Twain we see that through guided learning,
motivation, and cooperation from his teacher Bixby, we see that he is able to learn the full ins
and outs of piloting a steamboat. And just like my nephew Dexter through motivation, trust, and
guided participation from the mother, he was able to learn how to eat with a utensil. This clearly

Learning Episode

shows that learning is the final product of being determined and trustful through the guidance of
a parent, teacher, or Master.
Observation:

Observations
Learning Episode
Dexter is my fifteen month
Old nephew and is
Learning how to eat with Utensils.

Comments
At this point in time Dexter mainly
eats
With his hands or throws food
At the dog.

Dexter is sitting in his food chair

And has a bowl of

The high chair is about 4 feet tall

Scrambled eggs, while his

And has a table built into it. His

Mother holds a bowl of cereal.

Mother stands beside him to

Give demonstrations.

The mother starts to eat her bowl

Of cereal while Dexter watches.

The mother does this to demonstrate

Hands on how to eat with the utensil.

After the mother takes a bite

This helps Dexter learn visually.

From her food she points to

Dexter and his bowl of eggs.

Due to Dexters age we cant verbally

tell

Dexter then takes his spoon and brings

Him to eat the eggs so we try giving

It towards the eggs in his bowl.

Him motions.

He takes his spoon and starts

Smashing his eggs.
Afterwards he picks up the eggs
With his hands and eats it like
He normally does.

At this point Dexter looks as though

he doesnt quite understand
Why he needs to eat with the spoon

Dexters mother replies to his

Hand eating with no, no, no

So he decides to use the spoon to play

with his food.

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References:

Muuss, R. E. (1988). Eriksons theory of identity development. In Theories of

adolescence (pp. 1-25). New York: Random House.

Rogoff, B. (2003). Learning through guided participation in cultural endeavors. In The

cultural nature of human development (pp. 282-326). New York: Oxford University Press.

Rothbaum, F., Pott, M., Azuma, H., Miyake, K., & Weisz, J. (2000). The development of
close relationships in Japan and the United States: Paths of symbiotic harmony and generative
tension. Child Development, 71(5), 1143-1146.

Twain, M. (1903 / 2007). Life on the Mississippi (pp. 21-53). New York: Bantam Classics.