Getting to know stuff
Really private school
Let’s see how well our imaginations work. Pretend that you don’t remember anything about your school days. No subjects, no students, no teachers and no buildings. Most of all no desks that acted like a body cage all day. Since you could only speak when answering a question posed to check your recollection, we will create our own private school. Really private. Just you. This gives you a chance to build your own learning lab from scratch. You can paint the walls, if there are some, any color. But you could also have it in a treehouse. Or on a spaceship. Really, your choice. Next comes what you would like to learn. If you want to have ice cream, you might want to learn how to make it. If you want to know more about your ancestors, you might see a digital display of your ancestors. If you want to build a bike, the plans and parts are available. There will be very cheery helpers for each subject. Grades and tests wouldn’t be needed since the outcome would be obvious. I suspect that there would be few desks, but I would want some cuddle chairs for my reading addiction.
Learn about you
Your school is a reflection about what you want to learn as well as how you want to learn it. Oh, it should be fun also. Fun because you would surely make that one of the requirements. The aspect of fun in learning doesn’t come up much in school discussions. There could be some who decide that recess is the fun element. If they could think back to their school days, they would realize the absurdity of that idea. Recess is like being thrown into a crocodile pit covered in stew meat. To have fun learning, you must pinpoint what fun is to you. I remember a particularly bedeviling set of giant cards we used in reading class in my elementary school. I liked reading but those cards were a giant pain to use, understand or like. The idea was to make progress moving from card to card but when you don’t like the method of learning, you don’t make progress. You make excuses. I learned how to make those very well.
Transform your learning
Since it might take a little redecorating to build your new learning environment, think about what can be done currently to change how you feel about learning. You can definitely discard the past experience and set yourself up to learn with more fun. It seems obvious that the subjects would drive the new method. If you are learning from another person, it is perfectly acceptable to discuss how you want to build your knowledge level to see if they can adapt. If the environment means moving from an uncomfortable unit to a cozier one, ask about changing the venue. If you need a quieter place, library-like spots are everywhere. If you want to learn on your own, create your own plan. Take your journal and list what would be fun for you to learn. Along the way, stop the process for anything that goes astray or adjust it if possible. Don’t make learning into suffering. It’s your school, remember that. Your journal can double as a great spot for those lesson plans.
Untraditional ideas
It is easy for schools or training to become stale. It takes effort to change, and auto-pilot learning can be tracked by employers and schools to supply metrics to confirm or deny new ideas. Workplaces end up replicating elementary schools by failing to acknowledge new methods, reasons or feelings to update practices. Sometimes, learning just needs to be discussed with fresh eyes and ears. Humans aren’t usually attracted to dull subjects. But this can take a strong spine. Start first with your own school. Once you look like you are having a good time and are learning, others will creep up on you to determine what kind of hocus-pocus you are involved in. Don’t call it envy; call it interest. Your way for you will always be the best way.
What can you teach yourself this week? Set up a comfy spot to encourage comfortable learning.
