This study examined descriptions of learning experiences and the meaning
that learning has for 11 creative high school dropouts who had just
completed a one-on-one computer assisted multi-media learning experience.
For these individuals learning is an active experience full of challenge
and rich complexity which is grounded in resilient self reliance. Personal
experience is regarded as the most desired and effective way of learning
by these individuals.
The 11 creative high school dropouts were selected from a population
of 120 high school dropouts who were enrolled in GED or similar classes
at five research sites in 3 East Tennessee counties. For selection purposes
assessments of creativity and perceptual modality learning style were
administered to all 120 high school dropouts, and from these, 11 were
chosen for participation in a computer assisted multi-media learning
experience and indepth, phenomenological interviews based on three criteria.
The three criteria were that the individual had (a) scored at the 84th
National Percentile or above on the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking,
Figural Form A., (b) exhibited strengths in perceptual modality learning
styles not rewarded in traditional school settings, based on scores
obtained from the Multi-Modal Paired Associates Learning Test (MMPALT
II) and (c) volunteered to be interviewed.
The rich interview protocols were analyzed for meaning units and emergent
themes by the researcher and a phenomenological research group. Themes
are presented in three categories using the actual wording of the 11
co-participants. Categories are (a) How I Learn, (b) Why I Learn, and
(c) What Learning is to Me.
The How I Learn category includes descriptions of conditions and processes
present during optimal learning; desired personal, social, and environmental
resources; and feelings during learning. The Why I Learn category describes
the creative individual’s motivation for learning and includes
learning in order to understand yourself and your place in the world;
to do, make, or survive; and to care for, or understand, others. What
Learning is to Me describes the meaning that learning has for these
co-participants and was described succinctly by one co-participant,
"Learning is making the best use of my instincts and experiences
to understand myself and others, and to succeed in the world."
