Comparison of Deep Learning and Surface Learning

This paper analyzes deep and surface learning approaches and relates them to the behavior of students and the results achieved in examinations as well as the impact of education on the life of the student.

Running head; LEARNING APPROACHES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE
Comparison of Deep Learning and Surface Learning
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LEARNING APPROACHES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE 2
Comparison of Deep Learning and Surface Learning
Introduction
The approach that students adopt in learning determines their ability to achieve the short-
term goals such as passing in their examinations as well as well as the impact of the education in
the future (Minott, 2015, p. 12). Deep and surface learning is among the most common strategies
employed by students in learning. The two methods vary in the techniques applied for each of
them and the results as well. Students that apply different methods of learning are therefore
expected to be different in terms of the effectiveness of the method in question in the short and in
the long run. The approaches involve lecturers and tutors too who have a significant influence on
students and preference out of the pair. This paper analyses each of the approaches and relates
them to the behavior of students and the results achieved in examinations as well as the impact of
education on the life of the student.
Deep Learning
Deep learning involves comprehending an academic concept fully (Liang, n.d., p. 18).
The student, in this case, studies the entire concept with a clear aim of understanding the content
fully. The tutors and the students that apply this method exhaust all the details and they do not
refer to concepts that they have learned in the past. The learner focuses on the central concept
and is able to distinguish between arguments and the supporting pieces of evidence. The students
only relate the concept to other known ones after completion of the study. The students in deep
learning also apply the concepts that they have learned in real life. Students are mostly driven by
curiosity in deep learning and their eagerness causes them to have a better understanding than
students who do not study as hard. The application of deep learning is very important for

LEARNING APPROACHES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE 3
students, since they are able to pass their exams and have their characters transformed by the use
of the concepts, learned in real life. The teachers who apply this method have a lot of interest in
the subject they teach and they are able to draw the attention of the students to areas of concern
and guide them appropriately throughout the course (Liang, n.d., p. 10).
Surface Learning
Surface learning involves accepting of new concepts without much scrutiny as isolated
and unconnected items (İlhan Beyaztaş & Senemoğlu, 2015, p. xx). The main focus of the
student in this approach is on the need to solve the problem from a given formula. The student
receives concepts passively and he or she can hardly distinguish between principle and the
examples provided to support them. The students treat the modules and the rest of the program as
separate as they rarely realize the interrelationship of concepts. The understanding of the students
of concepts that require the application of other skills acquired before is quite hard. The students
do not perform well in their examinations due to the lack of qualification of studying advanced
concepts that they should have acquired in previous studies. The lack of interest and the poor
performance may make the student concentrate more on other activities such as sports. The
students have a lot of workload during the times that they decide to study. The belief that
recalling facts is the most important aspect of learning makes the students have little application
of the concepts learned in their lives. On their part, teachers may convey negative attitudes to the
content that they are expected and required to deliver. The emphasis of the teacher is on the
cover and not the depth of the content. The assessment in these cases is always very short and
not comprehensive enough to cover all the concepts taught (İlhan Beyaztaş & Senemoğlu, 2015,
p. 23).
Recommendations

LEARNING APPROACHES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE 4
Deep learning is better than surface learning in the sense that it leads to better
performance than surface learning and it also impacts the lives of the learners who use it
positively. Naturally, deep learning involves exhaustive coverage of all the concepts in the
program and the student is able to establish the relationship between concepts. Students should
adopt deep learning by taking a lot of time to go through the module in a logical order and in the
stipulated time according to the learning timetable. Retaking past concepts is the solution to
cases of poor understanding of the current concepts since the understanding of advanced
concepts depends on concepts that the students should have learned in earlier stages of the
course. Teachers and guardians should check the progress records of their children and ensure
that they take their studies seriously by taking enough time to study through the guidance of
timetables.

LEARNING APPROACHES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE 5
References
İlhan Beyaztaş, D., & Senemoğlu, N. (2015). Learning Approaches of Successful Students and
Factors Affecting Their Learning Approaches. TED EĞİTİM VE BİLİM, 40(179).
doi:10.15390/eb.2015.4214
Liang, Y. (n.d.). A comparative study of Chinese ESL university students' learning styles and
Canadian university students' learning styles. doi:10.24124/2013/bpgub1599
Minott, M. A. (2015). Encouraging secondary students’ deep reflection-on-learning: a case for a
reflective approach to evaluating students’ learning. Reflective Practice, 16(4), 487-496.
doi:10.1080/14623943.2015.1064375
Mizokami, S. (2017). Deep Active Learning from the Perspective of Active Learning
Theory. Deep Active Learning, 79-91. doi:10.1007/978-981-10-5660-4_5