Lego Architecture

I was in the Lego store the other day and saw a collection of Lego architecture buildings.  It made me think of this adult education blog because I realized as I looked through their collection that I now know a little more about famous buildings than before I walked into the store.  I learned something in the Lego store.  "How odd" I thought to myself.

It just reaffirmed to me just how quickly informal learning can occur.  I now know way more than I should about the Robie House, Farnsworth House, Burj Khlifa and Willis Tower.  I can now identify them just by seeing a photo of them.  All thanks to Lego.  Thank you Lego.

The Dewey School

Did some research this week on John Dewey's school.  The school's formal name is The University of Chicago Laboratory School.  It was very interesting to read through their website.  I like their slogan "LAB = LIFE".  That pretty much sums up Dewey's philosophy on education.

I was shocked to see how much of Dewey's influence still exist in our current school system configuration.  I still haven't determined if it is a good thing or a bad thing.

Educating the Masses on the Lottery Odds

The lottery is up to 640 million.  People are flocking to get their tickets.  What is interesting to me is the education going on through the newspaper and online articles.  Here are some statistics they are using to educate the masses:

- Your odds are 1 in 176 million

- Getting hit by lightning are 1 in a million

- Drawing a royal flush in five-card draw is 1 in 650 thousand

- Having identical quadruplets is 1 in 13 million
- Dying from a bee sting is 1 in 6 million

- Dying in a plane crash 1 in 30 million

Education through statistics is fun.

Which came first, technology or slackers?

I constatly hear how technology has caused our kids to become dumber.  Technology is blamed for bad grammer, poor social skills and wild abandonment of morals and values.  You know who is saying this, the adults.  Every generation of adults complains about how bad the kids are.  When I was a kid, it was generation X.  Known for bad grunge music, worst poetry and hanging out in coffee shops.  We were considered the wasted generation, wallowing in self-loathing, apathy and a waste of potential.  My parents, the baby boomers are known for woodstock, dropping acid, the hippie counter-culture and free love.  Every generation thinks the generation that comes after it is a bunch of useless kids.  And then those kids become your boss. 

These poor grammer, no social skill kids will adapt.  Just as we adapted, because the adults will adapt more slowly, or not adapt at all.  And then those kids, as they become adults, will be our professors, our leaders, our intellectuals, our politicians and our society.  So for those who fighting against the rapid changes occuring in society, fight on.  But know that society will shape itself regardless of your actions.  And technology will that catalyst that changes it more rapidly than the adults can adapt.

Using Visuals

So today I did an experiment.  I was tasked with communicating information to two people.  The information was the same, but with one person I used a visual and with the other I did not use a visual.  I know that both individuals prefer an auditory style of learning. 

After meeting with each, I found that even though they both have auditory styles of learning, using the visual still made a dramatic impact to the retention and understanding of the information being presented.  Very interesting.

Hybrid Philosophy of Adult Education - An "Aha" Moment

I have been contemplating how all of the philosophies of adult ed overlap and play off one another.  For example, it is actually impossible not to use some form of behaviorism in your training, teaching or facilitation.  The same can be said of liberalism's Socratic method or discovery through questioning or focusing solely on the idea.  The idea without application is meaningless.  And application comes into play in progressivism.  And anytime you lay your hands on a view and steer it a certain direction, you are engaging in radicalism.  Which is also unavoidable.  So the discussion isn't so much which you use, it is which you use at which times.  And there is your natural inclination and your purposeful use of the philosophies.  In a sense, when you use a particular philosophy to achieve a specific goal, you are once again using the behaviorist philosophy. 

I wonder why instead of focusing so much time on the definitions and roots of these philosophies, we aren't instead focusing on the proper use.  For example, use behaviorism for classroom structure, training plans, objectives and tests.  Use liberalism for small group and group discussion and for brainstorming and critical thinking.  Use Progressivism for practical examples, labs, exercises and small group projects.  Focus on the practical application of the idea.  Use Humanism for independent study outside of the classroom to promote learning outside of the learning environment.  Use Radicalism to discussion social and political ideas, critical thinking in a macro-sense and call to actions.

Had the topic been introduced and broken down into the application of these philosophies instead of the learning about these philosophies, I certainly would have been hooked from the beginning.

Thoughts on question #2 of "It can't happen here" (cont)

Of the 15 planks, which do you agree with?

Disagree with #1 - All banks, stock, insurance, bonds, mortgages, mines, oilfields, water power, public utilties, transportation and communication beed controlled by the government.

Disagree with #2 - Government determines which unions represent the people and they are bureaus of the government where all labor disputes are settled by the government.

Agree with #3 - Right to private property

Disagree with #4 - Right to religious freedom except.  Once you say except, I'm out.

Disagree with #5 - Cap on individual annual income of $500,000 and lifetime cap of $3,000,000 and cap on inheritence of $2,000,000.

Disagree with #6 - No profits on wartime manufactoring.

Disagree with #7 - Military expanded until the same size as the largest army on earth.

Disagree with #8 - Double the supply of money.  This would decrease the value of current money making debts cheaper but savings diminished.

Disagree with #9 - Do not strongly condemn un-christian nations.  Support jews as long as they support american ideals.

Disagree with #10 - African-americans income capped at $10,000.  Absurd.

Disagree with #11 - Every family gets $5,000 a year.

Disagree with #12 - Women not allowed to work.

Disagree with #13 - Communist inprisoned.

Agree with #14 - All bonuses promised to former soliders will be paid.

Disagree with #15 - Congress holds no power but to advise and supreme court cannot overturn executive laws.  Absurd.