Why is it important to learn to learn?

Obtaining the expected performance can be complicated when we do not know how to do it. It is essential to develop the ability to learn to learn. This ability involves developing cognitive aspects, that is, abilities that allow the student to know and regulate their own learning processes and, at the same time, develop attitudes to accept errors and to be able to face and overcome failure.

How can we teach children to learn to learn?

More than a series of techniques to develop this ability to learn to learn, we must start from the student's own reflection. It is very important that as the protagonist of the process reflect on what is your goal and how to create your own learning. This will allow you to learn to manage and learn to learn. Working on self-efficacy is the next step, being the key point of the whole process.

Guidelines for children to learn to learn

• Encourages reflection on one's own learning. Make the child wonder what he wants to learn, why he wants to learn it and how he is going to do it.

• Work self-efficacy and self-esteem by offering tasks that are challenging, but that is achievable. They must have some difficulty but at the same time they can solve.

• Before new learning, help him to start analyzing the previous knowledge he has on the subject. Learning to learn means being able to establish relationships with other contents and based on them, in this way a true and significant learning takes place, different from memorization or copying.

• Let them follow their own rhythm. Each person is different and learning is built, this implies a process that each one has to follow with their personal rhythm.

• It favors its active role in the construction of learning. Before the task of learning the protagonist is the subject that learns and its role therefore must be active in the creation of these learnings. To do this, allow and incite the practice, inquiry and development of skills or know-how.

• Teach him to evaluate the development of his learning. This implies reflection during the development of the learning process. In other words, make him reflect and realize what he has learned and how he has done it.

• Show him that error is a source of learning. Teach him to learn from mistakes by reflecting on them.

• Give emotional support and self-esteem to face the difficulties that arise during the process and face failure without abandoning.

• Wake up your interest and your motivation, let him see the usefulness of what he learns and try to provide him with the means and materials to produce a true learning creation situation.

• Help him reflect on his progress in the process. It is important that they see the achievements.