Schoenborn's back! Huzzah! This week in class he helped explain and start the Shakespeare project with us. We also focused on the Poems of the Week a ton and recapped the experience of his absence. But the most significant thing we did this week, the thing that grabbed my attention the most, was the discussion on what type of learners we are.
There are, apparently, three distinct levels of learning: surface, strategic, and deep. Surface learning involves just doing enough to get by, memorizing enough material to pass the test. Strategic learning focuses solely on the grade. It's learning so that you can get an A on the test or class and achieve the perfect grade point. Deep learning, however, is completely different. It is learning for the sake of wanting to understand. It is being inherently curious and legitimately desiring to know more. Deep learning goes beyond any test or grade, it's there with you for your entire life. And I think that that's the kind of learning I want to do. I actually really want to know more about this weird and wonderful universe in which we all live. If you've ever seen me during one of my (frequent) existential crises, you know what I'm talking about. However, I'm worried that as I spend more time in school, where the underlying tone of every class is to pass the test and make the grade, I'm going to lose this desire. I already feel like I'm learning superficially in a few of my classes.
This talk, though, served as a good reminder of why I actually like learning. Knowledge isn't about the test, as high school would lead you to believe, but about the longer lasting impact it can make on your life.
Quote of the Week: "Get out there, Night Vale! Grab anything you can and fight! Grab a slingshot and a book, say an Amy Bender Short Story Collection, or Milorad Pavic’s Dictionary of the Khazars. Or, if not a book, grab a rock. Or the throwing stars that come standard in most issues of McSweeney’s. Grab anything you can, and fight!
Do not believe in heroes, believe in citizens. Be a citizen." - Tamica Flynn Welcome to Night Vale (yes I realize this isn't technically a book, but it's still super good!)
There are, apparently, three distinct levels of learning: surface, strategic, and deep. Surface learning involves just doing enough to get by, memorizing enough material to pass the test. Strategic learning focuses solely on the grade. It's learning so that you can get an A on the test or class and achieve the perfect grade point. Deep learning, however, is completely different. It is learning for the sake of wanting to understand. It is being inherently curious and legitimately desiring to know more. Deep learning goes beyond any test or grade, it's there with you for your entire life. And I think that that's the kind of learning I want to do. I actually really want to know more about this weird and wonderful universe in which we all live. If you've ever seen me during one of my (frequent) existential crises, you know what I'm talking about. However, I'm worried that as I spend more time in school, where the underlying tone of every class is to pass the test and make the grade, I'm going to lose this desire. I already feel like I'm learning superficially in a few of my classes.
This talk, though, served as a good reminder of why I actually like learning. Knowledge isn't about the test, as high school would lead you to believe, but about the longer lasting impact it can make on your life.
Quote of the Week: "Get out there, Night Vale! Grab anything you can and fight! Grab a slingshot and a book, say an Amy Bender Short Story Collection, or Milorad Pavic’s Dictionary of the Khazars. Or, if not a book, grab a rock. Or the throwing stars that come standard in most issues of McSweeney’s. Grab anything you can, and fight!
Do not believe in heroes, believe in citizens. Be a citizen." - Tamica Flynn Welcome to Night Vale (yes I realize this isn't technically a book, but it's still super good!)