Learned Concepts

One of the modern solutions to this problem is applying active learning in the education system. Many learners are struggling with the passive method. The lack of engagement causes them to feel bored, resulting in low attention. This kind of situation can be a problem for the growth of students because they may not develop higher-order thinking skills.

That is why active learning uses learned concepts for its method. It helps students go beyond surface learning and memorisation. Without it, they might feel confused when trying to apply the knowledge in a real-life application. In general, this system helps them improve motivation, comprehension, and skill development. 

What are the learning concepts?

Learned concepts are ideas, facts, or understandings that a person has gained through studying. That means students are not just remembering the content, but have a grasp of how that fact or argument is valid. With this, they can understand what it means, how it works, and how to use it in different situations. They can achieve this skill through learning, observing, practising, or being taught. 

Learned concepts are crucial for learners to organise information as it leads to deeper and more useful studying. Moreover, it can be more efficient with the help of several learning methods. Here are some of the features of this style:

Based on understanding

Students know what the concept means, not just the words or terms. Also, they can explain it in their own words and describe how it works. For example, they can have a grasp of the meaning and purpose of learned concepts; give examples or relate them to real life; and answer questions about them in different ways.

Transferable to new situations

Learned concepts are flexible and can fit different kinds of situations or contexts. When students are in an unfamiliar situation, they can recognise when and where to apply the concept outside of the original lesson. Hence, they can solve problems or be coherent with different challenges.

Connects to other concepts

It is important to remember that each educational subject can relate to the other. That means this approach allows them to see the bigger picture and link ideas together. Moreover, learned concepts help them build a stronger foundation of knowledge, supporting long-term understanding and learning growth.

Support critical thinking and problem solving

Learned concepts can be an instrument for students to think logically and solve issues. The reason behind it is that they know how to apply the idea, not just remember it. For instance, they can use the method when reasoning through questions or solving real-world problems using what they understand.

The role of learned concepts in higher-order thinking

This approach plays a key role in developing students' thinking skills. With a strong understanding of the main ideas, they already have the foundation of all complex thinking. In this state, they have to be prepared to think deeply about the ideas and how to execute them in new situations. Moreover, here are other benefits from using learned concepts:

• Enable independent and creative thinking: Learners have a stronger grasp of concepts to generate new ideas or solve unfamiliar problems by themselves. 
• Promote long-term learning: Higher-order thinking is about building skills for future learning, and the learned concepts method can help to achieve that.
• Deeper engagement with content: Increasing their motivation and curiosity to continue their development process.
• Prepare them for the real world: Real-life situations encourage them to improvise. Knowing learned concepts enables them to know what to do in practical and unpredictable situations.
• Make feedback more meaningful: When students understand what they are learning, they can respond better to feedback and improve more effectively.