The Egalitarian Professor’s Manual on Learning.
Learn how to Study: Developing the study skills and approaches to learning that will help you succeed in university: A virtual tutorial with Professor Derek Rowntree. In short: The Egalitarian Professor’s Manual on Learning.
I hope you don’t mind if I get right to the point. Don’t let the title fool you! While I sense that Adler, Van Doren and Bayard approach the topic of reading and education from an aristocratic position— i.e. true education is only for the few who were endowed by the gods (small “g”) with the intellectual prowess and resources to succeed—Professor Rowntree approaches education from a broader position. He proposes that anyone can and should learn. In this way, Rowntree is the Egalitarian Professor, the friend of all of those who desire to learn.
As I read Learn how to Study, it became apparent that Rowntree’s educational philosophy is egalitarian in this way: the tools to learn are available to all, and the skills needed to crafts one’s educational experience can be learned by all who wish to learn—even if the only opportunity one has to learn is to listen. “You need to be involved in making your own knowledge,” says Rowntree. (L 869) To continue the meal metaphor from our weekly chat. Rowntree would say that it is not those wandering in the towers above who feed our education to us, but it is the learners themselves who, with the help of others who have dined before, plan and prepare the meal. It is from this vantage point that he wrote Learn how to Study and it is from this position that he advises the student in the tools and skills necessary to take an active part in the learning process. Furthermore, he motivates them to get it done. (L 1843)
In the first three chapters, Rowntree outlines his educational philosophy. In these chapters Rowntree emphasizes the experience of the active-reflective process of learning and the impact of education on the whole person. For Rowntree, learning is not a “product” but an active and reflective experience base on an upward spiraling progression from the fundamental to the more complex, each reflecting and building on the other. This experience follows a pattern in which the student uses a set of core competencies to be actively involved in the educational experience. These competencies include analysis, connecting, formulating, expressing and then beginning again. In the end, the “why and how” of studying is just as important, as “what” one studies. (L 124) The tools necessary for this kind of education are available and the skills learnable. (L 526)
In chapters four through twelve Rowntree lists the necessary skills for learning with the additional tutorial on how to apply and develop those skills. Of those chapters, the ones that are most applicable for my context are: the chapter on developing a strategy for reading—beoing without a strategy is like the messenger running without a message. the chapter on organization—I always need work in developing organizational skills. The chapter on reading critically—critical thinking is the key to knowledge. Finally, the chapter on preparing academic essays—everyone needs to express themselves. Following are a few relevant and motivational quotes followed by one of the more helpful strategies.
“The best way to get started is to just—get started. Don’t hang about waiting for inspiration, or you may be waiting forever. Don’t just sit there—do something.” (L 1843)
“Your job is not to be some kind of sponge or vacuum cleaner sucking up other people’s words. Rather you should be looking for the main ideas behind the written words and testing each one against the author’s evidence, against other experts’ ideas and against your own experience and sense of logic.” ( L 2387)
“In any critical reading of a text…you will need to do three things: Understand the text, identify the text’s main ideas, evaluate the plausibility of the text.” (L 2613)
Of the many helpful strategies that Rowntree presents, one of the more applicable for me is his seven phases for learning via essays. The seven phases highlight his classic reflective process of an upward spiraling progression from fundamental to more complex. They are (1) analyzing, (2) researching, (3) deciding, (4) planning, (5) writing, (6) critiquing and, (7) learning from feedback. ( L 4722). I wish I had learned this strategy years ago. It is timely advice for this stage in the program.
Learn how to Study is worth the time and effort to read and re-read. It’s one I will keep with me through the whole DMin program. Rowntree’s motivational tutorial style is refreshing, his philosophy practical, and his methods helpful and illuminating to anyone who wishes to learn for life.
About the Author
Jim Sabella
11 responses to “The Egalitarian Professor’s Manual on Learning.”
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HI Jim,
Reading your post, I believe you enjoyed reading this book. I did also.
I was glad to see that he billed up his reading strategies to writing an effective academic essay. Just what we needed! What organization tools will you utilize?
Thanks Lynda. Yep, I like this one. As far as organizational tools, I’ve bought and used all kind of apps and books; none seem to work for me. I think I’m just old school! I’m moving back to a plain handwritten notebook style. Found a method called Bullet Journaling, and that looks promising. Right now I use and an app called “Things” and I use the apple calendar and notes. As apps go, “Things” cost a fortune! So I’m using it a lot to amortize the cost, but I’m going to give Bullet Journaling a try.
Not waiting on someone to motivate you is one of my life mantras! I live by those words. Jump in and get started because you will eventually figure it out as you go along. It doesn’t mean that you don’t plan it just means that once you understand the purpose you must begin to do the work. No plan has everything figured out.
I do agree that the tone of this book was refreshing and encouraging. It did lay out practical ways to accomplish learning goals. The 7 phases are so practical and useful! For me, it removes the intimidation of essay writing. It reassures me that as I move through each phase I am one step closer to accomplishing my writing .goal.
I hear you Christal and I agree. I like to get going! In fact, if we SEVENS were the type to wait around for someone to motivate us before moving forward, I don’t think any of us would be in the program! We wouldn’t have made it this far in our education, in ministry or in life. We are all high achievers and motivated. On the other hand, I never turn down a little encouragement. I think Rowntree strikes the right balance and that’s one of the reasons I like this book.
Jim, I like your insight on egalitarian studying and I think it fits in a bit with Chip’s observation that they are no SUPER students, as we imagine them, but students who can learn to study using Rowntree’s strategies.
I am thankful for all of these books. I think at first we all had some rather “tongue-in-cheek” comments to make on why students in a DMin program are learning to read a book, or study, but the process has been really worthwhile and I feel way more ready to work on my essay now.
Great summary Jim. Very helpful to see the book through your eyes. I agree, having the 7 phases would have been helpful years ago. But then I think we have a greater appreciation for that kind of information now. I also appreciated your highlight of “just get started”. It reminds me of the phrase “paralysis by analysis” and how we get stuck because we overthink things instead of just doing or get started in a direction. Good points made, thanks!
Thanks Jennifer!
I enjoyed your post Jim, and I am glad you enjoyed the book. I, too, will be referring back to it again as we progress through the coming months. I like the quote about getting started – not just sitting there. Sometimes, I have a mental block, and there seems to be so much to do, that I do nothing. Just getting going is important!
Thanks Geoff! I’m having a mental block right now! Need to read and write some more. Thanks for you post. It encouraged me to get going…!
“To continue the meal metaphor from our weekly chat. Rowntree would say that it is not those wandering in the towers above who feed our education to us, but it is the learners themselves who, with the help of others who have dined before, plan and prepare the meal.”
Why is it we so gravitate to meal as metaphor? Perhaps it is that nourishment is essential to life, and as we discover other essentials (learning, community, beauty, etc.) we seek nourishment from them as well. You’re spot on, Jim, with identifying Rowntree as the egalitarian among our authors; the Open University (of which Rowntree was a founding member and professor) was founded on the model of “widening access to the highest standards of scholarship in higher education” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_University)
Rowntree writes, not only from his experience as faculty there, but from the values of open access to education for everyone. I wonder, translating that into the “church sphere”, if we share our good news from a position in the tower or the pews (those who have dined before).
Thanks Katy! There is something special about sharing a meal with others. It’s also very biblical. The meal has all of the elements needed to create strong memories. You’ll notice I didn’t say “good” memories but “strong” memories. Sometimes I can smell something cooking, and it will take me back to another time and place. We had a dessert one evening at the advance that was so unbelievable I can still remember the smile on everyone’s face, including mine. When I think about the experience, the conversation, the atmosphere, it makes me smile. What a great memory.
Bread alone has the power of memory all wrapped into one package. The smell, taste, texture, warmth, sound; it’s all there—it’s the sense and feeling of community. It’s as if God says, “you were not created to be alone; so have a meal with 12 other people. Break bread, laugh, smile, cry, shout and make memories that will come back to you 20 years later. One day you’ll smell bread baking in the oven, and you will be transported back to that meal, and you will remember that after all, you are not alone! That’s the power of the meal.