Milestones in Learning

Not too long ago, I asked my own children (aged from 11 to 21) what was the most important thing they had ever learned in school. This could be a scary question if you keep in mind that in some form or another, I have been directly involved in their education for all of their lives. But, being that they have on occasion accused me of being a bit too serious, they were not surprised that I asked. They have learned that as a parent, sometimes I ask my children questions that I know how they are going to answer, but I want them to verbalize the answer anyway. This was not one of those times. I did not know how they were going to respond, but I asked the question anyway.

Their answers pleased me. To sum it up, they said something along these lines. The most important thing that they had learned in school was the ability to think for themselves and that the end result of what they learn is not up to me, but up to them, up to the effort and work that they put into the learning process. Good. My job is done, I can hang up my figurative teacher’s chalk now. They’ve got it.

Shouldn’t that be the end result of all learning? The ability to process information so that you can think it through and apply it is critical. Knowing what you need to learn, and how to learn it is one of the tenets I have held to in teaching, not only my own children, but those with whom I have had the honor to work with over the years. Being able to keep the question, “So why does this matter?” or “What’s the big picture here?” in the back of your mind at all times is, I believe, an important part of the learning process. Unfortunately, in many school settings, this question is not even mentioned. I want to challenge you, no matter how old or young, no matter what you are learning, to always keep this question in focus. Don’t just go through the motions of learning, or of life – it matters! Ask yourself why while learning!