Wired to Watch: We learn when we observe

One of the best learning experiences I’ve had since elementary school was when I was in fourth grade, when we had extensive lessons on birds. This has stayed with me for years because The multisensory nature of the experience. I still have the bird book we used as a text.

Our teacher encouraged us to read about birds and listen to their calls. We drew it with ink and paint. Our final project involved making a tangible object for real birds.

I chose to do a bird bath. Nothing fancy. Plastic plate mounted on a stand and wooden base. I remember asking for help and my father would generously spend hours with me, helping me notice how it all tied together.

He never took charge, even though he should have. My attempt was rudimentary at best, but it collapsed at the bus station. It left me in tears then – but with insight now.

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or creative, the ability to observe is at the core of every role. My father did not correct my efforts as I carried out my vision. Instead, he taught me to notice. Then, after my project collapsed, he asked me to think about what I had failed to see.

Why we do what we do

Do you remember when you learned to drive? You’ve probably watched training films and watched other drivers long before you got behind the wheel. And then you had to log long hours of driving with someone who was able to share feedback about your performance.

All learning is like this. Watch and learn, watch and then act. The role of observation in our daily lives enhances our awareness and synchronizes the efficiency of all our senses. This is because our brains are equipped to learn through observation. When we see someone perform a certain action or convey a certain emotion – in a demonstrable way Body language-our Mirror neurons Creating mental images that we can rely on later, to complete the same task or respond to similar feelings. This is why modeling the behavior you want to see in your children is so powerful. Showing kindness in your community brings more kindness. In our relationships, the golden rule also applies: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

After my incident at the birdbath, my father and my fourth-grade teacher asked me the same important question. “If you could do it over again, what would you do differently?”

And thanks to the way our brains are wired to observe, we also learn vicariously. Mistakes are good! Imagine we’re on a hike together and I’m traversing the rough terrain before you do. If you trip over tree roots, you should avoid it. When we observe someone else’s actions – and we don’t like what we see – we are not doomed to repeat them. In this way, we have the opportunity to make corrections and adjustments to our approach to completing the same or similar task.

Mastering your ability to observe will benefit you in countless ways. As a lifelong learner, it won’t matter what you choose to look at more closely. No matter how focused your gaze is, if you do it often, you will enhance your thinking ability.

What will you decide to study to shape what and how you learn?