Approaches to Learning

Deep vs. Surface Learning: A deep approach involves understanding material by relating it to prior knowledge and seeking to make meaningful connections, while a surface approach focuses on rote memorization and fulfilling assessment criteria without true comprehension.

• Quality of Engagement: The quality of student learning is directly related to how they engage with learning tasks. Deep approaches lead to better outcomes, fostering understanding and long-term retention, while surface approaches result in poor learning quality and temporary recall.
• Influence of Teaching: Effective teaching should create conditions that encourage a deep approach, emphasizing meaning, relevance, and integration. Surface learning often arises when students feel pressured by assessments or overloaded with content.
• Imitation Learning: Ramsden warns against imitation learning, where students learn in a superficial way, memorizing without genuine understanding. This can give the illusion of learning but lacks lasting educational value.

Ramsden, P. (2003). Approaches to Learning. In Learning to Teach in Higher Education (2nd ed., pp. 39–61). Routledge.