{"id":459,"date":"2025-10-17T14:41:37","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T18:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/stalled\/?p=459"},"modified":"2025-10-17T14:41:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T18:41:37","slug":"joy-of-learning-4-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/stalled\/2025\/10\/17\/joy-of-learning-4-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Joy of learning (4.4)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s<\/em> joy <\/em><\/strong>in learning \u2014 yeah, we said it!! Focusing on the parts of your collegiate education that bring you joy is a good way to navigate the anxieties of the semester. Here are some suggestions about how to <\/em>center joy in your learning activities<\/em><\/strong>, both now and in the future.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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LEARNING FOSTERS JOY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

RESILIENCE.<\/em><\/strong> Learning requires us all to try new things<\/strong> and expose ourselves to things that are unfamiliar. If you never stumble, you won\u2019t feel challenged to persist (as University of Arizona researchers have shown). Knowing that you\u2019ve persisted gives you the satisfaction of feeling resilient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SELF-CONFIDENCE.<\/strong> The better educated you are, the more that you\u2019ll know how much you have to offer. While at college, you\u2019re consistently expanding your abilities<\/strong>, which should encourage you to feel more confident in your areas of expertise. Take confidence \u2014 and joy \u2014 in the fact that you\u2019re able to build a strong knowledge foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BROADENED PERSPECTIVE.<\/strong> You discover new views on the world through what you learn, and a broader view of the world<\/strong> and its possibilities is correlated with happiness. Go ahead, marvel at how full of fascinations this world is \u2014 it\u2019ll help increase your joy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ENHANCE THE JOY OF LEARNING <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE.<\/strong> True learning expands you as a person. But if you always (or even generally) stay within your comfort zone, you are far less likely<\/strong> to experience real growth. So try to take reasonable academic risks \u2014 if you\u2019re quiet, try to make one discussion contribution per class session, for example. Taking such risks can raise your self-esteem, make you feel more empowered, and equip yourself to embrace challenges and problem-solving more readily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THINK ABOUT PURPOSE.<\/strong> Why are you learning what you\u2019re learning? Yes, there are distribution requirements necessary for your degree, but what are the reasons that those requirements exist?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Reflect on how required courses help round you out as a person<\/strong>, as well as how they may help you in a variety of professional contexts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But don\u2019t stop there \u2014 think about how the courses in your major(s) and minor(s) give you skills and knowledge bases that are important. Make sure to contemplate not only how such courses will help you professionally<\/strong>, but also how these skills and sets of knowledge allow you to understand more about the world around you, personally<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BE CURIOUS.<\/strong> Ideally, college sets you up to be a successful lifelong learner<\/strong>. So, indulge your curiosity! Reflect on what is exciting about your major and minor course(s) of study, and think about what you want to explore further. This can deepen your passion for your studies, and it might also provide you with ideas for projects or research in future courses.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re excited about what you\u2019re learning, and when you see how that learning is meaningful, you\u2019re more likely to experience joy from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEACH SOMEONE.<\/strong> Sharing what you learn (with friends, family or others) helps you solidfy your own understanding of material. But it can also give you a sense of accomplishment and meaning<\/strong> to expand the horizons of people you know. Teaching someone else useful or perspective-shifting\u00a0 material is a great way to feel the energizing potential of learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FURTHER RESOURCES<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brower, Tracy (2022). \u201cLearning is a Sure Path to Happiness: Science Proves It<\/a>.\u201d Forbes<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grand Canyon University. \u201cThe Secrets of the Happiest College Students<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Library Student Team, \u201cPodcast: Finding Joy as a Student<\/a>.\u201d Medium<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tay, \u00d6zkan, and Tay (2009). \u201cThe Effect of Academic RiskTaking Levels on the Problem Solving Ability of Gifted Students<\/a>.\u201d Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilson, Shenhav, Straccia, & Cohen (2019). \u201cThe 85% Rule for Optimal Learning<\/a>.\u201d Nature Communications<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FACULTY FAUCET <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We know that students aren\u2019t the only ones who need to be reminded of the joys of learning, so faculty, here are some ways to help you keep joy in your teaching. <\/p>\n\n\n\n