Bransford explores the concept of what is a novice and expert learner in How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School, 2000.
There are many ways students learn. Most students will begin as novices but not all students will become experts. As they acquire knowledge they become experts or stay a novice. There are ways in which novices and experts differ. The difference between whether a student advances from a novice to an expert is based on not only teaching but also the way the student learns and processes the information.
There are many features of experts. (Bransford et al., 2000) states that studies have shown experts are able to notice features and patterns, organize knowledge based on context and big ideas, are able to retrieve knowledge, and chunk information together. Experts may need time to draw out relevant information and may not necessarily be able to teach others. Novices may have a basic understanding of content through memorization whereas experts are able to draw on knowledge and apply it in new situations. Understanding the differences between a novice and an expert is a valuable tool for teachers. Read more about the differences between an expert and a novice in my full essay here.
Photo credit: Wix (n.d.)
