When the teacher wants to know what “learning” is: A glance at the task of the school

Abstract

This article presents a descriptive empirical study aimed at investigating the judgment of students about the meaning of “learning” and the necessary conditions for learning in school. In trying to understand this topic, the article uses the works of those who have looked into the phenomenon of learning – especially Jean Piaget and those who followed him in the task of understanding the “construction” of knowledge. Based on the results of occasionall investigations with students of public and private schools in the metropolitan region of Campinas, there are discussed the following issues: On what does learning depend? When do students learn? When do students not learn? As a result of theoretical discussions, and dialogues in the context of the school reality it was possible to recognize the significant positive contribution that the creation of a cooperative environment can make to the learning process. Such discussions also highlighted the importance of the educator’s ability to listen to the student’s voice so that the teaching-learning process can become meaningful to them.

Key words: learning, development, constructivism, cooperative environment.