informal education
Topic 2 · 10 responses · archived october 2000
~spif
Mon, May 19, 1997 (02:05)
seed
This topic is for discussion of educational experiences outside formal settings. This can include things learned on one's own or learned from others. I personally learned most of what I know about computers from informal self-teaching and learning from others. And of course, much of what we learn about the world around us is learned outside the classroom. What sorts of things have you learned?
~donnal
Wed, Aug 27, 1997 (14:46)
#1
Well, (spif) I'm much like you in that almost everything I know about computers has been acquired informally. It seems to me that it requires the motivation (why do I want to learn Java), the opportunity (do I have the necessary system, software and so on), and persistance. In case you hadn't guessed, I am trying to teach myself Java at the moment, and the biggest hurdle seems to be carving out sufficient blocks of time.
~jgross5
Mon, May 18, 1998 (21:31)
#2
I really like the idea of self-directed learning,
plus I do very much like the idea of home-schooling.
And I like the idea of free schools. I like the idea
of working with one or 2 or 3 kids, by learning from
them. I'm 48, they would be so close to the beginning,
compared to me. They would be still so unformed, compared
to me, and they'd be more innocent. Those kind of qualities
are fun to think about getting close to and learning from.
To just be struck by what I see going on in them and seeing
if I can go with it because it's so breathing and alive, to
move nimbly with where they're going, to move with as much
feeling as they're moving with.....it seems such a beautiful
challenge, like life itself is talking to me, saying: "see,
it is still possible to feel and change and be passionate."
But the thing about kids, when I listen in to those emotions
that are closest to them, they, the kids, are incredibly original,
they've just got that already goin' on, and they kinda do like
to be accompanied by the truly interested in that regeneration,
the outcomes, the forthcoming actions, as that regeneration moves
in and through us and out into the day. I mean it feels plenty
good, mmm?
~autumn
Wed, Jun 17, 1998 (22:48)
#3
I used to be a French tutor, and I loved the one-on-one more than any classroom setting.
~sociolingo
Mon, Sep 4, 2000 (02:26)
#4
Home schooling tends to be idealised ...I did it for two years, and, yes, there are joys inseeing your kids develop, but most of the time it's just plain HARD WORK. There can also be a sense of insecurity. Normally we worry about our kids... we all do .... but with home schooling you worry more about whether you are doing a good job and whether they are keeping up. I know some people feel that is unimportant in comparison to the advantages, but it certainly worried me. I felt much happier when we were using an acredited system marked by an outsider. On the plus side we developed very good relationships with our kids, and now as adults their memories of that time are very positive.
~autumn
Thu, Sep 14, 2000 (00:20)
#5
I LOVE home schooling--it has changed our lives so much. It's such a liberating, empowering concept...never to be a slave to someone else's schedule. The added close family bond is a big plus too. Our worst day homeschooling is still better than spending the day apart from each other.
~sociolingo
Thu, Sep 14, 2000 (02:43)
#6
How old are yur kids Autumn? Mine were eight and eleven when we home schooled.
~autumn
Tue, Sep 19, 2000 (22:31)
#7
My daughters are eight and six. How old are your children now, Maggie?
~sociolingo
Wed, Sep 20, 2000 (06:01)
#8
22 and 25!!!
~sociolingo
Wed, Sep 20, 2000 (14:25)
#9
Here's a site that discusses informal education in depth.
Worth perusing, I thnk ...
http://www.infed.org/i-intro.htm
~autumn
Mon, Oct 2, 2000 (22:00)
#10
Interesting link!