Learning throughout history when presented in the best circumstance has been cognitive. You learn by doing. While I was a trainer in the United States Coast Guard my sailors performed best when they were doing what was being taught. In that business this exercise was called, “package skills building”. When someone is learning to drive an automobile and or piloting a plane these learning skills came to the fore.

As a professor the exercise has not changed our students learn theory which is important but it is when they put theory into practice is where the real magic of learning happens. For example, I teach personal finance to my clients as I am a small business owner but the client/student does not really get it until they practice investing, budgeting or accounting concepts.

Students become better writers by writing, they become better public speakers by speaking publicly and they become energized entrepreneurs by engaging themselves in the entrepreneurship experience. This is the best example if you will because doing builds experience and experience builds proficiency and proficiency builds creativity and innovation.

 In the classroom, both physical and online, I use this same approach. Some students will do better than others based on their commitment to the material. The student’s cognition becomes a wash in my opinion if their commitment to the “Package Skill Experience” is complete, of course this also has a lot to do with the motivation of the student and as instructor a well designed cognitive, package skill curriculum will go a long way in ensuring the student gets what they need. If you are able to do this then the cognitive development of the student is easy.

Passion for one’s education is passion for one’s life!

Dr. Duane C. Scott