UNDERSTANDING MECHANISM: OBSERVATION NOT ENOUGH!

Observation is not enough!

Understanding mechanism is the life of learning by observation.

Why is it done this way?

That is the question which understanding mechanism seeks to answer.

I used to observe my mum while she cooked. I noticed that in making stew, she would pour groundnut oil into an empty pot till it gets to a certain level, before she puts her tomato paste.

When I was in the junior secondary school, I'd already started cooking in my house. I was to prepare stew that Sunday night. I carried the gallon of oil and started pouring the oil into an empty pot just like I observed my mum do. It got to a certain point where I thought she normally stopped, then I stopped.

How was the outcome of the stew?

My Dad jokingly said that the oil he bought must have finished. 

The stew was a fountain of oil!

I kept making mistakes in cooking until I understood the mechanism of cooking those dishes. Until I understood the reason behind the methodology in cooking of those meals, the outcome of my food remained unpredictable to me.

Learning by observation is good.  Infact, it has proven to be a fast way of acquiring skills. But the life and potency of learning by observation is understanding why things are done that way. That is the purpose for theory. It is the logic behind the practical; the premise for the conclusion and the reason for the action.

While in law school, we were drilled in the practice of law through teachings. It was hectic. Some of us complained that the real life practice was different from what we were taught. We didn't get to go to court to practice what we were taught but we had few months Court placement and Chambers attachment during the period of law school. We were expected to observe Court proceedings and Chambers activities. Well, we tried. But when you have a serious exam ahead of you (Bar final exams), which will determine the future of your law career, you cannot put all your mind in the Court proceedings and Chambers activities.

Do you know that what I learnt during law school saved my life in Court? 

As I stood before the Magistrate that day, not knowing what he wanted from me, what my civil litigation lecturers taught me came flooding through my mind. That was how I got out safely and saved my legal face.

This is the benefit of understanding mechanism and procedure.

Both learning by observation and understanding the mechanism have to go hand in hand because they  compliment each other. It enables the learner become a whole and complete person in that area of learning.

Again, improvisation is possible when you understand the functionality of a thing. Then, you will know what can stand in its place and perform its function.

When there is no understanding of mechanism, life is left to guesswork. There will be no iota of certainty, rather wishes and assumptions will be the order of the day. 

There should always be room for questions and answers in any field of learning. It improves the understanding of the subject-matter.

As much as you learn through observation, pursue the understanding of the pros and cons of that skill. In addition, you'll also make a good teacher!

Written by Chiderah Beulah Ojukwu