Education SIG

[Les]

On Thu, 2008-02-14 at 22:08 -0500, Ric Moore wrote:
> On Wed, 2008-02-13 at 08:07 -0900, Jeff Spaleta wrote:
> > On Feb 12, 2008 9:31 PM, Ric Moore <wayward4now at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Sure, count me in. We're investigating introducing Linux as an
> > > educational tool within the prisons system. We're in the politics and
> > > grants stage. They keep me hidden. <grins hugely> Ric
> > 
> > That's a fascinating challenge.
> > 
> > I wonder how much more freedom of movement you have in such an adult
> > education situation, versus a standardized public school system.
> > 
> > I've had a good constructive talk with an educator here, who was a
> > technology specialist before moving into administration, and he's
> > related to me what he thinks the challenges at getting teachers using
> > open software.  There can be significant inertia against change in the
> > classroom.
> > 
> > But I wonder if the same forces acting against change exist in adult
> > education situations.
> 
> That's the FUN part! There are always forces acting against change. It's
> apt that the Moore Scottish clam motto is "Break that which is hard with
> patience". 
> -- 
I have just finished my BSIT via University of Phoenix online.  It seems
to get little credibility with folks, but then so does self education,
which many of us on this list have utilized, since we began our software
journey before schools were up to speed. 
 
	I think that somehow, schools became the "traditional education", when
nothing could be farther from the truth.  Traditional education is that
which you get sitting at the knee of your parents, mentors, advisors,
and in your own efforts.  Schools are the real "non-traditional"
education, since they cropped up mostly after civilization had started,
and were created and are currently sustained by people who think that
you can only learn from others and books, when real learning comes from
personal experience.  The question most of them struggle to answer is
who wrote the book.  

	But that is my opinion and people who know me know that I am strongly
opinionated.

	I would advise them to learn to sail.  There are tons of classes,
clinics, and help on line, but until you feel the boat heel, the drive
of the pressure on the sails, and experience your first accidental gybe,
or spend a bit of time righting and recovering a small boat from a
broach, you don't have any idea how to sail.  And this is something
mankind has been doing for thousands of years.  Yes, you can learn
techniques to improve your sailing from books, but 1 hour on the water
with a man like Paul Cayard would provide more education than a library
of books could ever impart.  I have sailed at 7kts on a 22 foot boat, so
fast that others in larger boats couldn't catch me in a 42 mile stretch.
I have sailed so fast on my 38 that it seemed (and probably was)
dangerous.  But I learned.  A lot! And nothing compares to the freedom
of knowing, really knowing how to do something entirely on your own.

Regards,
Les H