เรียนจาก ⭕️ ถึง เรียนจากรู้ (Experiential Learning)
Learning from ⭕️ to Experiential Learning
A few weeks have past since the last post in this series of "Learning from 0...", As we can see by this post. The series is not over yet. [I had taken time off to learn, think, design and build some (digital) tools and talking to friends and strangers to get some support for a learning tool building project --called กข (KoKho in English). I am using Github to store and distribute tools (code) in this project. (The code is released with a GPL-3 license, which means it is free to copy and use in the general sense - but not to sell nor to deceive people.) The work is aimed for use on digital devices with a 'browser' such as computers, tablets, smart phones and smart TVs.
กข suite of tools can run online (with Internet connections) by going to
https://sr12zar.github.io/KoKho/
or offline by downloading a zip package from https://github.com/sr12zar/KoKho
(see detailed instructions in the 'README.md' on how to run กข on your devices).
In this post I'd like to introduce 2 tools (on the เล่น (play) page. These are tools to (informally) assess own hearing and seeing abilities.
ฟัง กข : allows assessing of hearing ability over a range of frequencies and volume settings
เห็น กข : tests visual acuity (at arm length -- where a lot of learning happens) using Landolt rings
Why hearing and seeing test tools?
We rely greatly on our senses in learning. Learning difficulties may arise from poor hearing or seeing. Good hearing and seeing means learning difficulties lie somewhere else -- other senses.
It seems beneficial to assess (even informally) these senses and if they raise concerns then go and seek medical help.
There are a number of inherent issues with the tools that we should know.
ฟัง กข : needs good over-ear speakers to filter out other noises, or a very quiet room
the tools is based on volume setting of the sound system on the device which varies from device to device, as well as the setting of the speaker system
volume setting is only a (poor) indicator, not a proper measure of hearing ability, if there is a concern after using this tool, please seek medical assessment
one other use of this tool is for setting the 'graphic equalizer' on some devices (some TV's, sound bars and phones - mine have this setting - check yours) for best hearing experiences (for someone in the family).
**Warning: the volume setting on the device should be less than 50% of the full range.**
เห็น กข : is designed to assess visual acuity at arm-length (about 40 cm from eye-to-screen), this should be the viewing distance for work on computer; ** tablets and phones must be held with a straight arm**
device screen resolution affects the acuity of the symbol on the screen, hence the ability to recognize images,
size of the screen also affects the size of images and hence visual acuity
brightness and tint (of lighting) of the screen likewise affect acuity
Both tools have another inherent issue, they require a click to signify recognition of a sound or an image. There is a chain of events from the sensing organs (hearing/seeing), the brain (discerning sound/image), the brain (sending command to the hand), the finger (clicking/tapping the screen) which tells the tools to capture that data recognition. Each event takes time. And different people take different times. The device's sensors and processors also have their times. These are among uncontrolled parameters, the tools are working with. However, we learn to use what we have - knowing that we don't have a perfect tool.
*Notes* 1) Another person may be required to assist in operating these tools, especially when used by very young (or old) learners.
2) These tools are not meters (measurement devices which tell ‘amounts’ in ‘standard units’). The tools tell ‘levels’ in relative to the devices, users and uncontrolled environment.
Despite these shortcomings, these tools may offer indicators of hearing and seeing problems where medical are not available. They offer a tool to learn about our own senses and to understand some difficulties others may have with their senses. (But it's still not a fun game.;-)
What more is that these tools offer scientific habit building experiences where observations from
less-than-ideal instruments (tools) are used. Assessment results can vary with motives and emotions. Honesty more often produce the most accurate assessments.
My learning from ⭕️
- Around Christmas last year, I set out to collect and develop a set of tools for learning children. To satisfy constraints (for quality and equality [of education]), I chose digital devices (overly available), 'Browser' (one governing standard body; to shield from different operating systems, but browsers are not all the same yet) and Html (CSS, Javascript software set) to implement and deliver the tools. I started developing by searching for components/features that I need. I copied and modified the pieces to fit 'my' tools. I learned html, css and javascript from ⭕️.
- On the way, I learned about processes of learning (reading, writing, playing,...). I learned more about body senses and how they are involved in learning. I have planned but yet to learn more about influences, and about body, emotion and mindset in learning, so I can build and collect more effective tools. (Your opinions and advice will help me learn.)
- I learned that our body organs that come in pair, both of the pair are essential for functioning. Though one of them may be able to carry out most of the functionality (enough to allow us to survive), one is NOT a SPARE. One eye lacks ability to assess distance/position. One ear lacks ability to assess movement/position as well. The pair is a team.
- in learning, we need a team of sensors, a team of brains and their MEMORY facilities, a team of actioners (hands, feet, ..,) and a team of 'guidance systems' (drive, mindset, culture,...). Enough to say that learning is very complex and multi-level system. All components need care and maintenance. One part of maintenance is regular use/exercise. Another part of maintenance is regular rest/sleep. One part of learning is memorizing, another part is forgetting and another is re-arranging what remain. By applying what we learn over and over we become what we do and we often reject any novelty that threatens to change to way we are doing. This is when the 'glass is full' and learning (in that field) stops.
So let us continue our journey (learning) but on another day ;-)
ความเห็น (3)
We know what we are but know not what we may be ~ William Shakespeare
Hi! and thanks for the ‘quote’.
It took me a life time to learn ‘what I am’ (what I do and can do). If I continued doing what i am doing, I would die with what I do. A big cheer to whatever others may think. ;-)
To those who have tried to work เห็น กข today (March 19) and found a dumb screen – not responding to anything. I apologize, I made a silly mistake before I committed the source code. It is now ‘fixed’. And you should find it doing things on clicks (or touches on mobile devices).
I should have learned to leave things that work alone ;-)