Situated Learning

Have you ever noticed how much more enjoyable it is to learn something when you're actually doing it?  That's the joy of situated learning!  It's like learning to bake a cake by actually baking one, not just reading a recipe.

Imagine learning about footy by just reading a book.  Boring, right?  Of course, you don’t learn how to play by reading a book. Sure, the book can share lots of tips about the game. But to actually learn how to play, you have to play! That’s situated learning in action!  You learn best when the learning is connected to real-life situations and experiences.

Think about learning to ride a bike.  You didn't learn by watching YouTube videos, did you? You learned by doing it, by falling, and by getting back up. That’s the power of situated learning!

This type of learning works with everything. If you’re learning about plants, then go ahead and plant a seed. Watch it grow, read up on how to care for it, and pull out the weeds around it. (I once did that, but pulled out the plant I was caring for by mistake.)

The more real you can make your experience, the more your learning will stick with you.