Learning Behavior

The term may be approached through different prisms, by focusing on the learner’s behaviour and alternatively on the mentor’s behaviour. Within the learner’s behaviour spectrum one may differ between two aspects: intrinsic learning behaviour and active learning behaviour.^[1]

Intrinsic Learning Behaviour

It is characterized by the natural neural cognitive activities responsible for learning processes performed in the sub-conscious level; it is the ‘brain behaviour’. Examples from intrinsic learning behaviours are:

• information processing and association with prior knowledge – memory;

• learning from mistakes and failure;

• innate curiosity;

Each of this operations, are performed by the brain within various learning styles sets, depending on the individual’s personal inclination.

Active Learning Behaviour

Employed in parallel with the above-mentioned activities, the active learning behaviour refers to the actions performed by the individuum in the conscious level aiming the mastery of the task to be learned. The latter is the most frequently addressed in the literature on learning behaviour and encompasses the following practices:

• self-discipline (through self-conditioning);

• self-organizing, establishing a strategy;

• self-studying, self-reflection;

• self-motivation;

• engagement;

• concentration, focus, mindfulness;

• transformative learning/collaborative learning (widening one’s perspective): exchange of ideas, seeking feedback, sharing information, seeking for help, talking about errors, collaboration, argumentation, discussion;

• learn by doing: to put the knowledge in practice, problem solving;

• creating a proper environment for learning activities, learn in a proper environment;

• provide oneself with proper sleep;

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