I think a lot, not necessarily on the deep or somewhat meaningful level, but I do think. One thing I have been thinking recently is that it does not matter how smart you are if you are unable to communicate. So in order to improve my own communication I have a goal to write 500 words a week. Now I leave on a mission in two weeks so clearly I'm not going to get a lot of posts up before I leave. Well you got to start somewhere! So here I go, hopefully I can maintain this after my mission and remember that I even started it! This first post is going to be very random about several subjects that have been weighing upon my mind lately. If you happen to read this or any post please feel free to make any comments on your opinion on any matter I post, or any suggestions you have for me in my writing!
Education
One thing I have been thinking a lot about is school... Up until my first year of college I always believed that school was "to teach things" and although I still believe this is true for elementary education, and to some extent secondary education, education near the end of your secondary education and post "traditional" education is more orientated on learning to learn. Although it is true that you learn still (at least hopefully) I feel like my experience has been more "a sample of the ice cream" (think Baskin Robbins) with the real goal to leave you wanting to decide to get the whole cone. I have learned personally that I can teach myself far better then I ever learn in any classroom experience. This could be for a variety of reasons... Maybe I just pick stuff I'm interested in, but then again why am I interested in what I am interested in? Why not some other subject? Why is physics death to some people, and an almost love affair for others? I personally believe a lot of this is up to the teacher. In my opinion a true teacher's calling is to not see how much info they can cram into their students head for a semester. But how much love for a subject they can implant into their student. If I have a great Chemistry teacher, I'm going to want to learn more about Chemistry and same with all the subjects. It is true that some students will be more naturally adapt at some subjects then others, but most of this isn't necissarly "brain power" its more about work ethic. Edison once said, "There is no substitute for hard work." Another reason I might learn better on my own could be because I have to work harder. My 9th grade english Teacher had a sign of a big baby spoon with pictures of a baby face in the spoon and a line that said, "No Spoon Feeding!" Clearly when you have to work for something you will learn it "better" it's often dificult to ask a teacher in the middle of a lecture of 40 kids or more a question. Especially when you feel that question might be "dumb" or off the topic. When ever I personally have a question about something I'm learning on my own, I'm usually at home or near a computer. And since the all knowing google and wikepedia is just a few clicks away, I can easily answer my own questions. Often times teacher's cringe when a student uses wikepedia as a source. I think this is a rather archaic view and silly to be honest. I do believe that when using the internet as a source it is up to the reasearcher to confirm the facts themselves, but for the most part Wikepedia just keeps getting better and more and more libraries of info are becoming available online the internet just keeps getting better and better. Besides who ever said that everything printed in a book or news article is true ;)
Well hopefully my future posts will be more ogranized and though out. They may be rather varying as far as subject material, and really I don't give a darn if anyone reads what I write, I just am trying to improve my writing!
