Building Competency in Diabetes Education THE ESSENTIALS

FOUNDATIONS OF DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT| 2-45

THE PROCESS OF CHANGE AND THE PRINCIPLES OF LEARNING

When diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, change is always part of the discussion. In order to change, some ‘learning’ will need to occur. To start our journey in facilitating engagement in positive self management behaviours, it is necessary that we understand how to initiate, monitor and support learning. Theories, methods of motivation and acronyms are constantly being developed; a review of some basic terms may be helpful: • To educate is: “To train by formal instruction and supervised practice, especially in a skill, trade or profession. To develop mentally or morally, especially by instruction” (147). • To learn is: “To gain knowledge or understanding of, or skill in, by study, instruction or experience” (147). Learning is the desired outcome of education. • To teach : “To cause to know something. To cause to know how. To instruct by precept, example or experience” (147). Teaching is the process of facilitating education. All of these terms attempt to explain a complex, poorly understood, but essential part of the human condition: The desire to grow, develop and change.

The desired outcome of all education is learning or change, whether it is a difference in attitude, an increased level of knowledge, an improved psychomotor skill, an altered belief or a new feeling (10).

If learning occurs during an educational experience, a person will be different in some way, so it is not surprising that educational models and theories of change are related. It is important to remember that simply because a person has learned something new does not mean he or she will make a desired change. Knowledge acquisition may be only a first step in changing behaviour.

Change ?

Knowledge

Learning