Becoming an "Expert Learner"

Photo by: Taruna Goel

“Essentially, the goal of education has shifted from knowledge acquisition to learner expertise… becoming an expert learner is a process, not a fixed goal.” ― Anne Meyer, Universal Design for Learning: Theory and Practice

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) defines "expert learners" as learners who are resourceful and knowledgeable, strategic and goal-directed, and purposeful and motivated. The UDL framework is about guiding learners to become better learners. So, the expertise that we seek here is not in the subject area being taught. Instead, it is the expertise associated with #learninghowtolearn and doing it strategically and purposely. As some would say, it is the "mastery of learning" rather than the "mastery of knowledge". 

As described in the video by CAST (See References), among other things, expert learners:

• Set goals
• Make choices about learning
• Reflect on their learning 

In the book, Universal design for learning: Theory and practice, Meyer, Rose, and Gordon (2014) note that expert learners are not created in a vacuum. They argue that expert learners require expert teachers who need to be expert learners themselves. They go a step further and highlight that learning environments need to support, encourage and nurture the goal of learning expertise for all.

As L&D professionals, teachers, instructors, facilitators, we need to approach our learnability and learning expertise as a continuum. And a big part of becoming an expert learner is to view learning as a process, not a product.

References:

UDL & Expert Learning (Video)

UDL Practices of Expert Learning by CAST (Document) 

What is an expert learner? (Blogpost)

Meyer, A., Rose, D. H., & Gordon, D. (2014). Universal design for learning: Theory and practice. Wakefield, MA: CAST Professional Publishing. (Book)