Monday, February 7, 2011

Relevant learning

This article talks about the lack of support that kids get about career choices and the large amounts of college drop outs. 

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/02/01/national/a210155S84.DTL&feed=rss.business

I think it's very true that many (most) students don't see value in their high school and college classes because they feel like it's knowledge that they will never use in life. I think I've been lucky in that I've done several internships and have been able to apply things that I've learned to work. Every time I do an internship, I'm amazed that many concepts that I've learned actually applies. And I leave the workplace with more motivation to learn things at school. This may not apply to everyone and every industry but I think that internships really help reinforce what you learn in the classroom and give you a sense of direction.

Anyway, nowadays I'm surprised to hear high school students complaining about classes and how their classes are not relevant. Algebra absolutely relevant. I don't know what I would do without algebra (and calculus). And it's not that you have to know every single concept. You can always go back and revisit things to apply them to what you're working on. It's just much easier if you've "learned" it once before. I guess I'm also surprised that there are grad students who complain that their classes are not relevant...

2 comments:

docey101 said...

5 staff for 24 students. well, we have the same kinda enrichments, gardening, someone from the Y, and nutrition. i would let the kids prepare more food, if someone can get me the supplies we need. hmm, i'm one of those people who find (almost) everything relevant, at least philosophically, but you gotta be open-minded and patient and humble. haha, i name my three great qualities!! ;)

LearningByReading said...

I could use you as a motivational speaker in my class. So many of them do not see the value in learning algebra! .....