Basic, Inspirational, and Creative Learning

One of the things I see missing the most with those that I mentor is a clear understanding of the different types of learning. As people continue to be attracted to Leadership Education, they also begin to feel a little bit lost. Uncomfortable even. This is quite normal as we step out of our comfort zone of what we know, out into the foreign land of what we don't know.

I hope over the next few weeks to explain some new concepts about why this might be the case. At least, it is what I see as part of the reason. So...bear with me and please comment on what you think about it all. These concepts are a work-in-progress for me as well, so I hope to learn along with everyone else.

Basic

There is a basic level of education that everyone is expected to have by the time they graduate. We consider this an education in reading, math, and writing that allows a person to navigate the world as an "educated" person. This basic level is obviously very important, so important that it has become the ONLY focus for many schools, both public and home.

We see schools even called "Back-to-Basics" schools that drop creative programs, like music and sport, in favor of focusing on the basics that a student needs. This can lead to a very stunted education that lacks many important features to make a well-rounded person.

Inspirational

This level of education can be best described as that spark, that rush of curiosity that makes us explore. We feel something that inspires us to look into a subject with excitement about learning what it is all about. This type of learning is very much a lost art in modern day education. We focus on what we are supposed to learn rather than what we want to learn.

That desire, that initial inspiration to learn is one of the most difficult things to manufacture, which is why it is practically non-existent in most public and home schools. It has to be gently cultivated, not forced.

Creative

Some people naturally have a desire for creative learning. Small children are full of this type of learning. They build a tower, knock it down, and build it again...repeating over and over and over. Why? Because it's fun! This is creating over and over something that teaches them about the world they live in.

With older students, we see glimpses of creative learning in schools in the form of art classes or an occasional project. It is far underutilized with older students, being largely squashed out of existence unless it fits a suitable Basic education requirement.

Part 2...
This is a very short description of three main methods of learning. Most things fall within one of these types. As people begin to think about education as a whole Liberal Arts Education, we begin to see the need to study through these types learning...but in what balance? Which types of education should be used and when? How much time should be spent in each?

...more coming soon!