Getting It

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors make the point that learning is not a prepackaged recipe, and that learning arises with fascinating, compassionate living. What each of us could learn is what we need to live our lives in the way we choose, and to this end, each of us needs to learn different matters, and at different times. Given this diversity, this chapter begins to explore the holistic pedagogical approach of quality willed learning. In part, willed learning is based in fascination, trust, respect, and care. The authors believe that fascination and compassion are central. Fascination and trust are what allow for an internal motivation to flourish. They believe that if you are fascinated with what you do, then you will do it with heart/passion, and there is no greater motivator than passion. Ultimately, learning is not linear, it does not follow a single model. They believe that learning is messy, chaotic, and wonderful. It may reflect some constructivist tendencies in some cases, but they do not see it as necessarily being so. So it’s not as if we come into the world with nothing, but we come in with something and this something is also malleable.

Experience is not what happens to a man. It is what a man does with what happens to him.

Aldous Huxley