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Surface and Deep Approaches to Learning

Students differ in their approach to learning, both individually, and in different contexts.

Two common approaches are deep and surface. The following descriptions are taken from Deep, surface and strategic approaches to learning by Professor Jaqueline Lublin.

Students who take a deep approach have the intention of understanding, engaging with, operating in and valuing the subject. Such students:

  • Actively seek to understand the material / the subject
  • Interact vigorously with the content
  • Make use of evidence, inquiry and evaluation
  • Take a broad view and relate ideas to one another
  • Are motivated by interest
  • Relate new ideas to previous knowledge
  • Relate concepts to everyday experience
  • Tend to read and; study beyond the course requirements

 

Students who take a surface approach tend not to have the primary intention of becoming interested in and of understanding the subject, but rather their motivation tends to be that of jumping through the necessary hoops in order to acquire the mark, or the grade, or the qualification. When asked, staff deplore this approach but they frequently acknowledge that the majority of their students tend to take this approach. Students who take a surface approach:

  • Try to learn in order to repeat what they have learned
  • Memorise information needed for assessments
  • Make use of rote learning
  • Take a narrow view and concentrate on detail
  • Fail to distinguish principles from examples
  • Tend to stick closely to the course requirements
  • Are motivated by fear of failure

 

If you are involved with setting assessment for your students, you can influence your students' approach to learning by aligning your course aims and assessment.

For the rest of us, we can still encourage our students to take a deep approach to learning. Here are some suggestions:

  • Be enthusiastic about your topic
  • Know why the material is useful for your students
  • Don't spoon feed
  • Ask deep questions (but not every time!). For example, think about studying a Star Wars film. Here are sample 'surface' questions:
    • What is the relationship between Darth Vadar and Luke Skywalker?
    • Give a summary of the plot.
    • How does one destroy a Death Star?

    Here are sample 'deep' questions:

    • Is Star Wars anything more than a typical battle between Good and Evil?
    • What influences has Star Wars had in the making of movies?
    • In what ways is Star Wars a reflection of our current society?