Interview Format for EDU 542: How does Long Term Learning

Happen
Interview One: Age__26_ Gender__Male__

1. What is something that you have you have learned in the past that you still know and
understand today? Describe the place and your age when you learned this information.

When I became an adult at age 25, I lived away from my parents and it became my job to
learn to fix things around the house. One day the shower and the sink was clogged and I
became curious about what was going on and how I could fix it. I looked in the shower drain
and sink drain to see if something was wrong or broken. Then I googled and researched what
was going on and read through some articles and pages that explained a similar problem.
Then I found out what was wrong. There was most likely just hair and scum that was
clogging the drains and pipes. There were few solutions that were presented and I tried them
all. I tried dumping baking soda and hot water first but that did not seem to work. Then I
went to the store and bought a drain snake. I also had to do research on the different drain
snakes. Once I found a good one, I bought it. Then I came home and used the snake on the
drains as I was watching the videos. After some time, I unclogged the drains and I now know
how to unclog the sink drain and the shower drain.

2. Describe the learning process and explain why you think you learned (remember) that
information? For example, if the learning took place in school what did the teacher do to help
you learn?

I think I learned because I wanted to solve the problem. I learned through trial and error and
finding a solution that worked. I took the time to research and watch videos so that I could
fully learn what needed to be done to fix the problem. I was genuinely interested in learning
to fix it because I did not want the water sitting in the sink or the shower when it should be
draining. I remember that information because I know I will have to use that skill set again in
the future. Having my own living space motivated me to learn to fix things when they break
or are not working properly.

3. What particular study strategies did you use to learn this matter? Please describe any
strategies or experiences that might have helped you in this learning process. Do you find
these strategies helpful in any other learning situations?

I went on YouTube and googled situations where other people were unclogging their drains
so that I could follow what they did. It helped to both read the information and see other
people do it before I did it. I also watched the video while I was doing. After seeing it in
several videos and reading it on multiple websites, I had learned some information that
helped me to practice and perform the task on my own drains. I also used this same process
in learning to clean the air conditioner. I did the same process and was able to know about
 the parts and how it works so that I could take it apart and clean it when it needs
maintenance.

4. How did you know you were learning? Please provide evidence that told you that you were
learning.

I knew that I was learning because I was doing things that I did not know how to do before
on my own. I was able to understand information I did not know about and I still remember
how to perform those tasks. Now what the situation arises, I was able use what I know and
fix it.

5. Would you consider learning this information hard or easy? Interesting? Explain or describe
your learning experience.

Learning this information was easy because it was just learning the instructions to follow.
Through the experience, I started out seeing what the problem was. Then I began to research
videos and articles that explained the process of finding the solutions to the problem. Then, I
gathered what I needed and I realized I needed to go to the store to buy the tool. Once I got
the tool, I was able to re-watch the video as I was fixing the drain. This helped me to follow
the process and see what I was supposed to be doing. I ran into a problem but then continued
finding information on why this was happening and I was able to figure it out and finish
fixing the drain. Now whenever I need to fix it, I have the tool and I know what I am doing.

6. What currently motivates you to work hard to learn something new?

Wanting to be good at something motivates me to do something new. Also, doing something
to the best of my ability helps to motivate me to work hard and learn something new. It is an
intrinsic motivation that allows this learner to feel like he is excited to learn. He enjoys the
feeling of getting something done and feeling good about it.

7. Please explain how you remember new information today. Did your prior learning help you
learn better today?
If I repeat the information several times that will help and if I watch someone show me and
model the information, it will help me remember new information. My prior knowledge does
help me to learn new information because I can take what I know wand build on that to
create new knowledge.

8. Do you believe you are naturally smart or are you smart because you work hard? Provide
examples/evidence for your answer.
I believe I am both naturally smart and I am smart because I work hard. Some people can be
gifted in certain areas and allow them to be smart in some things. There is also an element of
trying hard to put in the work and learn new information. Something I am naturally smart in
understanding is critical thinking. I am very inclined to think deep about different topics and
 understand how they work. I had to work hard in reading but it has helped me to understand
words and how to be a better reader. I also had to work really hard at rock climbing, I was
not naturally good at it but it took a lot of practice and effort to learn and be decent at it.

9. What do you do to learn that is beyond or not required in school or work?

I will research things that I do not understand to further my knowledge of it. If I am unsure, I
will watch videos and look up information on the specifics of what I am trying to learn about.
He extensively researches things throughout the day to learn more about his hobbies and how
he can continue bettering himself as he participates in them.

10. What would you like to tell educators about helping others learn?
Don’t be so vague but give good concrete instructions of expectations. I would also like to
tell educators to encourage others so they want to learn and do not find themselves
discouraged, to the point where they give up.

Reflection 2-3 page:

For this interview, I gained insights into how learning happens for another person. This is

helpful information because it allows me to get better understanding of different processes of

how people effectively learn new information. It is helping me to see that all people have their

own way of learning which is important to be aware of as an educator.

I can see the similarities to this person’s learning process and the information processing

theory. I can see the intricacies of how the systematic models of memory, cognition, thinking,

sensory memory, working memory, and long-term memory, all work together to allow for

understanding and comprehension of learned information. From what was learned, the

interviewee. Though this learned material was somewhat simple, it revealed key insights of the

process this person used to learn and store new information. They from this experience, he is

able to use the same process so continue learning in the future. He is a person who enjoys

learning even though he may not see good at it as he is. With hard work, he is able to have

resilience when the content may not seem attainable.

 I was able to see how the learner used his working memory while receptively watching

videos and learning and thinking of how what he was watching applied to what he was fixing. He

was motivated to do the learning for this task because they wanted to take care of his home and

have a sense of accomplishment when he fixed it on his own. He was also motivated throughout

the process as he was remembering what he watched and saw the process of what he was fixing

being fixed. I saw the process of cognition as the learner was doing research, going to the store to

pick out tools, and then using guided instruction and modeling as he was watching the video and

imitating the process of fixing the drain. He was able to store the information into his long term

memory as he used hands on learning to further reinforce what he had taken in, process, and

stored. There is proof that this information is stored into long term memory because whenever he

needs to fix the drains, he is able to bring out his tools and use what he learned to fix it.

This is connected to how learning happens in the brain because the content was meaningful,

there was repetitive processes involved, using background knowledge to learn new information,

and use interactive and hands on learning to practice and retrieve what was learned. This

connects to the learning sciences as well in many of these same areas.

Growth mindset was seen in this learning experience when the learner ran into a problem.

In the middle of working on fixing the drain, the learner realized that the drain snake was not

going further down to access the clog. Instead of giving up at this point when it seemed like there

was no more he could do, he took time to do more research. This demonstrated resilience and a

growth mindset as he was able to work through a challenge and therefore he was able to continue

working on the drains.

From this learning process, I have learned the importance of teaching a growth mindset

and using a variety of modes in the learning process. This learner did his research and learning
through watching videos. He was able to see what was happening visually, while listening to

what the person was doing. This helped to reiterate the process of fixing a drain so that he could

learn. Through repetition, he was able to watch several videos to find one that he felt was

understandable and gave clear instructions. This was important because the learning has to be

meaningful and not every video will be helpful if it does not resonate with the learner. For

example, for one of my student’s who loves specific videos on YouTube, I used those if they

pertained to what we were learning so that she was motivated and enjoyed the content. I also

learned that it helps to store the information when the students get the opportunities to engage in

a hands on learning process. This is where they can take what they learn and replicate it. I will

take what I learned in these interviews and use the information about how people learn in

different ways.