Cultivating the disposition to understand in 21st century university education

This article discusses the need, in 21st century university education, to encourage a ‘will to learn’ in students, and explores its meaning using a variety of empirical evidence. It draws on previous studies related to academic understanding to introduce the idea of a disposition to understand for oneself and to consider how teaching–learning environments can be adapted to encourage this consistent tendency to want to understand deeply and to be alert to ways of developing that understanding further and using it appropriately. In discussing such environments, particular emphasis is placed on the role of Web 2.0 technologies and how they can be used to support the disposition to understand.

Research Highlights► This paper focuses on student learning in higher education. ► This paper considers the cultivation of a 'disposition to understand for oneself'. ► The 'disposition to understand for oneself' is a novel perspective on students' learning. ► This concept builds on a rich tradition of empirical research. ► The paper discusses the potential of Web 2.0 for cultivating this disposition.