I've been reading more of my 'Learning Journal' book by Jennifer Moon (ought to probably practice my referencing here - but not today hey?).
I am particularly interested in the concepts of 'assimilation' and 'accomodation'. This is the suggestion that we don't learn by just taking in new information and piling it up on top of that we already know, rather we absorb new information by relating or linking it to things we already know and then cross referencing it. Also the fact that sometimes things we learn shift things we already knew, as it changes our ideas about the world. I love this concept as I don't feel as intelligent human beings that we just take information in on face value anymore - what about if we don't agree with it? or if it is the opposite of something else we've learnt? She talks about this too and indicates that learning in these cases can be quite painful and difficult and we will often look to discredit the source in these instances. She also talks about the fact that we sometimes just change our mind (my Husband would agree with that!) and that too is just an example of these processes. In this instance the learning isn't directed - it's very much owned by the learner.