Over his shoulder

Looking after my grandchildren today I encountered a behavior that I've seen before, and it set me wondering.

Dodger, the oldest, 10years old, asked after lunch if he could have his computer time. He's allowed and hour a day. He'd done everything asked of him during the morning, and had eaten a good lunch, so I said yes.

Sailor, 7, came and told me he was going to watch Dodger play video games. I said: "Sure, just ask him first."

"Oh" said Sailor: "We always watch."

And, sure enough, within minutes Dodger was playing a Star Wars game and his younger brother was watching over his shoulder. They exchanged a comment now and then, but mostly Sailor let Dodger get on with the game uninterrupted unless he was cheering or applauding a good move.

Big brother plays while little one watches over his shoulder.
 It can go on for hours!

I first encountered this behavior years ago with my nephews: the older one played, the younger one watched, and I've seen it in other families too. At first I thought it unfair - I thought the older one was hogging the computer and relegating the younger sibling to a passive role. However, over the years, I've seen the younger ones step up and begin playing independently and I've realized that watching over shoulders is a way of learning, and in today's world, it seems to be a stage that every child journeys happily through.

There are many styles of learning. Teachers, Circle Dance facilitators and Park Rangers understand this and the best ones try to cater to all styles: people who learn by instruction, demonstration, experimentation; people who learn with words, numbers, music, singing - the list is long. "Over the shoulder" is a new learning style for me. I wonder if it can be effectively used in schools?

Children are familiar with this technique, they're doing it at home, so perhaps younger ones could, one or two at a time, watch over the shoulder of an older child doing some activity that, though they might not fully grasp immediately, they would gradually come into. It seems to me that all sorts of knowledge and skills could be taught this way.

Teachers too, could invite students to watch over their shoulder as they complete a task. This is different from demonstrating, it's more akin to the way that Tai Chi is traditionally taught in China - no words or instruction, you simply follow along, making mistakes with no comment or condemnation until you get it right.

It could be called "learning by stealth". And I welcome the addition of a new method to my repertoire.