Learning by Doing

"To 'learn from experience' is to make a backward and forward connection between what we do to things and what we enjoy or suffer from things in consequence. Under such conditions, doing becomes a trying; an experiment with the world to find out what it is like; the undergoing becomes instruction--discovery of the connection of things." John Dewey wrote those words about education way back in 1916 and they are still very relevant today. And even more so regarding the learning process of autistic persons. While rote learning is important in autism to master routines, it is also important to recognize that people with autism need to learn by actually doing things - making things, exploring things, and capitalizing on their passions and curiosity to figure out how the world works.

The mystery of how learning actually occurs is the subject of many education policies, but as John Dewey noted in the last century, we really understand things best and retain that information when we actually experience those things. Simply put, we learn by doing. The more real experiences we can help our students have, the better their understanding of their environment. They may not be able to explain the how and why, but that doesn't mean they don't get it. Hands on activities are critical to learning - from facilitating play with 3 dimensional characters,  figuring out how to put simple and complex puzzles together, building with Legos to building complicated machines. You just can't learn to ride a bike by learning the word b-i--k-e or watching a video - you've got to get on one and get going.

So many of our students give us a road map for their learning style through their 'restricted interests and activities,' which is part of their diagnosis. Perhaps if we look at 'restricted interests and activities' and change those works to something different - passion, focus and action oriented -  we'd have a better idea of how to approach their teaching. It is all in the way we choose to frame it.

Last week, a friend introduced me via the internet to a 14 year old named Joey who has been involved in Detroit's Maker Faire for kids on the spectrum who enjoy making things.  Joey writes his own blog (http://lookwhatjoeysmaking.blogspot.com/) and while the spelling is not perfect, the enthusiasm is clear and his creations are very imaginative. How wonderful is it to have an outlet for all that creative energy! And how obvious is it that Joey has mastered many concepts via his creations. My guess is that Joey is one of those kids who learn by doing things and figures out the how and why of things through his experience. With kids on the spectrum, most concepts are better understood with the actual practice rather than a drill at a desk. And we already know that most information truly take in is visual. So less talk about the whys and the wherefores and more focus on doing!