What does bottom-up and top-down learning mean?

Answer 1

Bottom-up learning means it is knowledge you build on. It starts with a foundation at the bottom and you learn more. Hence, the term, bottom up.
Top-down learning means anything that can be learned by anyone without that prior knowledge.
An example I can think of for bottom-up learning -- I learned the basics of sewing at the bottom and my skill and knowledge built upwards until I became a proficient seamstress able to perform complicated tasks.

Answer 2

Bottom up learning would be hands on practical experience with the particular job. Top down would be learning the theory of something and then attempting to do it. An example would be a carpenter attempting to design a house versus a designer attempting to build one.