Developing skills for all ages

Key points:

Curiosity is a source of opportunity for all educators. As the world is constantly changing, there are countless examples of how to harness it.

While visiting my grandmother at her senior living facility, I noticed a recurring series of informational talks. This amounts to a series of lectures on anything from space exploration, artificial intelligence, or even phone scams. These are superficial introductions to various topics that residents find interesting. While this type of information may not be applicable to high school students if they are already familiar with the topics, it does offer an obvious opportunity for educators: to teach what interests students.

All of the great teachers I had growing up found ways to weave the topic they were discussing, even tangentially, into current events. Math teachers showed how parabolas were effectively used for space exploration. Chemistry teachers demonstrated why it was difficult to harness solar energy. One physics teacher even explained why conservation of energy was such a big theme in the movie's plot. Apollo 13These are examples of the art of education and how creativity on the part of educators can be wonderful.

Basically, the argument I am trying to make is that the “why” of learning should be fostered and can be developed into a love of learning that lasts into adulthood.

The brain is an organ like any other, and to remain effective, it must be used. It is common practice for older adults to participate in book clubs as a pillar of their social and intellectual well-being, chatting with people at similar stages of life to interpret an author’s words and think critically about important topics. This may seem a far cry from a fifth-grade classroom, but people who start at an early age maintain these habits throughout their lives. For example, my grandmother is an avid participant in book clubs and claims that role models in her early years helped foster curiosity that continues today. This is just one of the many ways teachers can show students how to take an active role in their education and extend learning throughout life.

I'm not unaware that having a group of students in a classroom and expecting them to continue this habit is a crazy idea; however, building social interaction around a group learning activity is a great way to encourage this behavior. While a book club may be too formal or slow for the standard student, they sure love review games like Jeopardy! In the adult world, this translates to trivia night, a fantastic way to wrap a social event around learning. This is a viable concept that can be implemented in schools and will hopefully develop into a lifelong love of learning.

As I reflect on my own education, I think of a handful of wonderful educators and what they did to inspire me. Their influence made me want to continue my formal education and seek out supplemental resources, such as books and other outside materials. For example, my 5^He My second grade math teacher, Mrs. Perkins, identified my affinity for the subject and fostered it. Whether it was reciting PI up to a few hundred digits or solving problems backwards instead of forwards, I still attribute much of my love of math to my experience in that specific class. While I know other students have had similar experiences, how do people who have completed their formal education continue to learn?

Teachers in the United States have the nearly impossible task of fostering education in students who often have no interest in the subjects being taught. How often in your own education have you been distracted during class while the professor is explaining something as pertinent as American history? While this is information you must understand in order to be a functioning member of society, today’s students would rather be doing anything else. Ignoring for a moment the difficulty of attention span, how can teachers change this so that students are excited about education? There are new techniques that put engagement front and center for students. Whether it’s gamification, artificial intelligence, or other new approaches, the goal should be to foster a love of learning in the hopes that it will blossom into a lifelong curiosity and exploration of knowledge.

Teachers have the difficult task of educating students to meet ever-changing standards and making the process engaging for them. This task, while daunting, can be accomplished in countless ways if educators approach it creatively. By developing lifelong learning strategies in students, teachers can help them learn and love the process.