Learning happens all the time. The brain never stops working and it is not possible to divide time between learning and non-learning periods. Everything an individual hears, sees, touches, smells, and tastes contributes to learned experience.

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Learning requires a sense of safety. Fear and anger block learning. So do shame, embarrassment, stress, and anxiety.

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Learning must be meaningful. When a person doesn't see the point, when they don't know how the information relates or is useful in "the real world," learning is superficial and temporary.

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Learning does not require coercion. Learning cannot be forced against someone's will. Coercion feels bad and creates resistance.

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Learning stops with confusion. All learning must build on what is already known.

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Learning is often incidental. We learn while engaged in activities we don't necessarily see as learning-focused, and the learning happens as a sort of side benefit.

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Learning is often a social activity, not something that happens in isolation. We learn from people who have the skills and knowledge we're interested in and who let us learn from them in a variety of ways.

 

We don't have to be tested to find out what we've learned. We demonstrate what we have learned as we use new skills and share our knowledge with others.

 

Feelings and intellect are not in opposition and not even separate things. All learning involves emotions as well as intellect. This is true for humans, horses, dogs, and all beings with both feelings and intellect.