Page 115 - Foundations of Learning, 4th Edition (Revised)

11 Transfer/Application Learning to play tennis will potentially help me understand other sports such
12 Problem Solving as racquetball, squash...maybe even table tennis. I’ll also learn more about
keeping physically fit.
13 Self-assessment
14 Research Playing to capitalize on your own strengths and your opponent’s weaknesses
is a problem that tennis professionals routinely have to solve. I’ll certainly need
to think about that in order to play a competitive game, but I first need to work
on my basic skills!
My son has recommended a book, Tennis for Beginners but all the pictures and
instructions are for right-handed players...and I’m a leftie! I know the book will
be helpful, but I’ve got to figure out how to adapt the information so that it’s
most useful for me. Maybe I can view the pictures reflected in a mirror...

I plan to regularly self-assess my performance and improvement. I’ve developed
a couple of questions that will allow me to gauge and assess my performance,
at least at the beginning:
Can I understand enough of what is going on in a televised tennis match to
discuss aspects of the math and player actions with Bobby?
Also, can I play a game, enjoy myself, and keep an accurate score?

Now that I’ve used a racket, I have a much better appreciation of how an
alternative design could have an impact on different aspects of my game. I plan
to do a bit of research regarding different racket options and costs.

Now, let’s try some activities about the LPM to learn more about it and to actually apply it to a learning
exercise.

WOW. This is a powerful tool and one that I can begin to use immediately
in so many different contexts! I hate that I’m having some difficulty with
factoring in my Algebra course—I see how I can use the LPM to outline
precisely how I will tackle that problem. And this summer I’m taking an
Officer Training Course where I’ll need to learn the state codes inside
and out; that will be another place to apply the LPM. Bobby’s got the
tennis thing under control (I’m not going to admit how often he skunks
his old man!) but he IS having a tough time learning to play the guitar. The
LPM will provide him with a way to “divide and conquer” that challenge.
It won’t mean he or ANY of us don’t need to practice, but it does give an
incredible structure for tackling a learning activity. Oh, and I’m restoring
a 1972 Norton Commando motorcycle on the weekends and learning as I
go. While I probably won’t need to use all the steps of the LPM, that project
has dragged on long enough that I COULD use a new way to move things
along...then there’s my sister Sara who is taking a beginning pottery course...

PROCEED TO ACTIVITY 4.1 (page 111) 109
PROCEED TO ACTIVITY 4.2 (page 117)

Chapter 4 — Learning to Learn