A Little Learning is a Dangerous Thing

 True Learning

“A little learning is a dangerous thing” that is not rooted in a deep scholarly approach. This assertation raises questions to ponder. Today in the midst of a digital information-saturated world, with connectivism on the rise (Kotzee & Palermos, 2021b) and many adults relying on the internet to educate themselves, the question arises: what constitutes true learning? 

In research from Kotzee and Palermos, connectivism is critiqued and our society's trend towards self-educating platforms like MOOCs is analyzed (2021b). Although the information is not always reliable on the internet, it is argued that individuals can learn to cultivate good judgment to ensure their learning is based on reliable sources. 

The takeaway point is that, as long as a collaborative learning experience is set up in a way that allows students to make good judgments of other students' contributions in more or less the same way that scientists judge each other's contributions, there is no reason why a group of online learners cannot bootstrap themselves — even without much help from a teacher — to knowledge (Kotzee & Palermos, 2021a).

It can be argued that learning based on internet sources can prove dangerous due to the lack of reliable sources. Information is used to form judgments, which influence behavior. Learning that isn’t thorough and paired with discernment can prove to be dangerous. 

In a study by Sanchez and Dunning, the learning process was analyzed and stages of learning were related to over-confidence (2018). It was found that after a little learning on a new topic occurred, participants became over-confident, which led to “exuberant and error-filled theorizing about how to approach the task formed after just a few learning experiences” (Sanchez & Dunning, 2018). Learning was found to steadily increase until a level of expertise was reached, though confidence fluctuated throughout the process  (Sanchez & Dunning, 2018). The danger lies in what people do as a result of too much confidence but not enough accurate knowledge. 

My father has a Ph.D. in physics, and one of his mantras is “the more you know, the more you know you don’t know”. To me, this means that with knowledge comes more awareness of the vastness of truth, and with that comes humility. I personally try to cultivate humility no matter my knowledge level, in accordance with Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (New International Version, 1989). If humans can maintain good judgment and humility, then learning will only be beneficial for all.

References:

Kotzee, B., & Palermos, S. O. (2021b). The Teacher Bandwidth Problem: MOOCs, Connectivism, and Collaborative Knowledge. Educational Theory, 71(4), 497–518. https://doi.org/10.1111/edth.12495 

Sanchez, C., & Dunning, D. (2018). Overconfidence among beginners: Is a little learning a dangerous thing? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 114(1), 10–28. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000102 

Verbrugge, & Buursma, D. R. (1989). NIV topical study Bible : New International Version. Zondervan Bible Publishers.