The FUN in Learning!

I am an advocate of learning choice. I think that there are so many options available now and that each family must do their own research, and lots of it, to discover all of wonderful choices that are available so that they may make the best choice for their family. All of the choices available have their pro's and con's. There is no one BEST choice out there. I do believe, though, that it is our responsibility as parents, educators and others interested in the future of our children to learn about these options to discover what makes each successful so that we may incorporate those successes into our own institution of learning whether it be public, private or home school.

Traditional Learning Methods Challenged by Technology

Traditional learning methods are being challenged by advancement in technology and awareness of individual learning styles and needs. Those advancements include hardware availability, software programs and the extent that those programs are becoming a vital part of our everyday world. What can we do as individuals to help implement these changes in our educational institutions? Most of us went to a school building and learned in a traditional classroom setting. Not only has that 'setting' changed dramatically over the years but also the people, methods and even the information acquired. The majority of people today are still using old, traditional methods to teach. But, technology is changing our world right along with the way
people use information and view how they might go about getting or giving that information for or to others. While many people are still able to benefit from those traditional methods, many are finding it difficult to translate traditionally administered material into our technological world. People tend to resist change. Maybe they figure that so many things in this world are changing, perhaps some things should remain the same.

Many classrooms and home schoolers still use technology very minimally because of lack of awareness of the tools that are available and/or the expense involved. Another reason technology is not used may be the fear of unknown harm that could occur, such as internet safety issues. While there may be the potential for harm in ANYTHING we do, being afraid of something new because of a fear is unreasonable. While teachers may be prevented from using technology because of their school's fear or concern, home schoolers have the freedom to research for themselves to determine if their fears are valid or not. You will find information going both ways on this subject and you will have to decide for your own family or classroom what you believe to be true or how you can avoid those safety issues.

Learning Difference

The advancement of technology has made us more aware of learning differences and the need to allow people to use new methods to learn what they need to know. These advances are creating an opportunity for change in the way we learn. There are many, many resources available to help you determine which learning style you would most benefit from. Once such resource is a Learning Style Assessment which is available from companies such as Reflective Educational Perspectives. This information is useful to people of all ages because no one stops learning at a certain age. We continue to learn all of our lives! Wouldn't it be wonderful and beneficial to find out how you learn best? Just think about the possibilities if our children were given the opportunity to learn in a way that was most beneficial to them. Perhaps there wouldn't be such a thing as learning disabilities anymore. Even people with physical or mental limitations could maximize their potential!

Alternative Learning Methods

Many families are discovering new ways to learn using alternative methods. Homeschooling has the advantage that families are able to offer different kinds of learning environments for each of their childrens learning styles. While many home school families still follow a school-at-home type of learning environment, many other home school families learn about their child's interests and allow their children to learn as much as possible about what they are interested in. Instead of using a curriculum to teach rote learning of math and language, they use real-life learning of these subjects by involving their children in everyday activities that use these subjects. While many people may see this as an extreme variation to traditional learning methods, these
families have found tremendous success this way. There are also new kinds of schools that are opening up that allow the students to learn about the things that interest them and at their own pace. ( Spring Valley School ) ( Article about public alternative schools and their struggle )

Video Games In Learning

Researchers are finding extreme value in the use of video games. Not only in games that were designed to impart knowledge, but also in games that were designed just to be fun. Video game companies are finding ways to re-design their games to be used for educational purposes. Electronic Arts and Carnegie Mellon University have collaborated to produce a computer programming environment using the Sims 2 environment to create a compelling and
user-friendly way to learn programming. Some schools are finding new ways to use technology and making attempts to redefine how they look at offering learning opportunities to their students. Many schools are using Lego Robotics to help children learn programming and teamwork skills. MIT is partnering with Microsoft Corp. to produce entertaining educational games for use in schools. ( Education Arcade )

Taking A Look At Smaller Institutions Success

Because institutions are required to show accountability for their efforts in order to receive funding, it is very difficult for an institution as large as public education to keep up with the kinds of changes that are taking place today. It may be easier for smaller or less technologically 'savvy' countries to implement new methods for education. It would be to our benefit to take notice of what smaller institutions are doing to see what works or has the potential to work and begin implementing those things in our efforts. If entire institutions cannot make these changes it may be up to individual teachers, parents and students to try new methods.

One such example of an organization making an effort in a big way is the One Laptop Per Child project. Their mission is to provide children in the developing world with a source to get the education that they need by providing them with a laptop. These children not only do not have technology
readily available to them but they aren't even able to receive much of an education in a traditional situation. Please visit their website and read more about this wonderful organization and see if you would like to join with their efforts.

I feel that if we, as individuals, keep an open mind to new ideas and accept that technology IS the way of the future and become willing to embrace it in all its glory and trials, we will be opening the doors for the future of our children and our children's children and on down the line. If we choose to close our minds to new ideas and possibilities we will be limiting the future generations capability to keep up with what the future holds for them. Institutions are made up of individuals. In order to hope for any change in a large institution the individuals must do some small part in effecting that change. No matter how small the change is, any acceptance of new possibilities is a start.

Suggested Reading

Discover Your Child's Learning Style by Mariaemma Willis and Victoria Kindle Hodson
How Children Learn by John Holt
What Does it Mean to be Well Educated? by Alfie Kohn
In Their Own Way by Thomas Armstrong
Everything Bad Is Good For You by Steven Johnson
Deschooling Society by Ivan Illich