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GLOSSARY
Recognizing that many of the terms used to refer to the elements of learning to learn have a variety of meaning depending on context and perspective, we offer here our definitions of some key terms. These definitions represent our best understanding of these words as we are using them in this monograph.Active Learning - is process of exploring, analyzing, communicating, or using new information or experience.
Analytical thinking - is separating and distinguishing elements of a concept (idea, problem, etc.) in order to understand its essential nature and inner relationships.
Cognition - is the process by which a person learns; it involves strategies for processing information, prior knowledge about content, and problem-solving and thinking skills.
Critical thinking - is exploring questions about and solutions for issues which are not clearly defined and for which there are no clear-cut answers.
Creativity - is the ability to produce something new, to generate unique approaches and solutions to issues or problems or opportunities.
Intentional learning - is learning with self-directed purpose, intending and choosing to learn and how and what to learn.
Knowledge - is facts, information, content.
Learning - is the process of developing a skill or of acquiring knowledge and understanding of a subject.
Learning to learn - is a process of acquiring, understanding, and using a variety of strategies to improve one's ability to attain and apply knowledge, a process which results from, leads to, and enhances a questioning spirit and a lifelong desire to learn.
Learning strategies - are cognitive processes students use to learn, understand, and apply material that may be relatively complex, (e.g. summarizing the key points in a textbook chapter).
Learning style - is the combination of individual characteristics (personal, psychological, intellectual) that shape a student's approach to a learning task.
Metacognition - is thinking about thinking and knowing about knowing, being aware of and controlling the learning process.
Motivation - is student's reason for learning and may be personal (intrinsic) or external (extrinsic).
Problem solving - is thinking about and finding answers for a relatively clearly-defined situation for which there are one or more reasonable answers.
Study skills - are very basic techniques for learning relatively unsophisticated material (i.e. mnemonics for memorizing lists of the multiplication tables).