I totally agree with everything you've said about formal education. It's a great way to create a foundation of knowledge, but it gets to a point where you're only learning the things you're going to be tested on, and absorbing very little that will have any value in whatever you choose to do with your life.
I've been doing a lot of reading lately about Informal Learning - the concept that we learn better by picking up the knowledge we need as we go, rather than sitting in a formal class or training seminar and having what we're "supposed" to know drilled into us. Jay Cross has a great book about it (called Informal Learning) that you might want to check out.
Good luck with your informal education - it sounds like it's serving you well! =)
Derrick Kwa
· 2 years ago
Thanks for the comment, Sarah.
I'll check out the book that you mentioned. Haven't really heard that term before, but the concept sounds good (and sounds like something I would agree with).
Joanna
· 1 year ago
Derrick, this is a thoughtful and challenging post, thank you. You remind me a lot of my son (who's 20) who struggles a lot with the formal education system and I think often feels like he's in a cul de sac. He tries to learn a lot off his own bat and I guess that gives him some of the intellectual freedom you're pursuing on your own now. It's a brave step though, and I applaud you for it - and hope things work out for you.
Joanna
Derrick Kwa
· 1 year ago
Hi Joanna,
Thanks. Yep. It's working out so far, but the real test would be when I go out to get a job, I guess. But it's been a great journey for me. =). Hope things are working out well for your son as well.
All Comments
I totally agree with everything you've said about formal education. It's a great way to create a foundation of knowledge, but it gets to a point where you're only learning the things you're going to be tested on, and absorbing very little that will have any value in whatever you choose to do with your life.
I've been doing a lot of reading lately about Informal Learning - the concept that we learn better by picking up the knowledge we need as we go, rather than sitting in a formal class or training seminar and having what we're "supposed" to know drilled into us. Jay Cross has a great book about it (called Informal Learning) that you might want to check out.
Good luck with your informal education - it sounds like it's serving you well! =)
I'll check out the book that you mentioned. Haven't really heard that term before, but the concept sounds good (and sounds like something I would agree with).
Joanna
Thanks. Yep. It's working out so far, but the real test would be when I go out to get a job, I guess. But it's been a great journey for me. =). Hope things are working out well for your son as well.
Derrick