Image by Zhang Erning via Flickr
When someone says “education” what is the first thing that comes to mind?
If you said hours and years of college, sitting at desks in front of teachers and blackboards, you will have matched the answer of millions of other Americans. Of course, university learning is now available online with solid degrees, which is a great thing. And some, like the prestigious MIT online program, are even offered free.
However, in today’s world of technology and the ability for anyone to access a continual universe of information, education can become close up and personal in a way that was never before possible.
And the really exciting news of the modern age is that there is also a whole world of information to be studied and learned on one’s own. Self-directed students are the fastest and most solid learners in the world.
Think about that.
When someone is learning because they want to, not only is the process exciting, the student is going to move fast and excel at the information they are digesting. And, they are going continue learning for the rest of their life.
Perhaps it is now time to think of “education” in broader terms. Maybe it is also time to take responsibility for one’s own learning and understanding of the vast world of potential that lies ahead.
Einstein once said: “The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.”
If one of the world’s greatest minds understood this, then perhaps it is time for each individual to become responsible and excited about what real learning is, and where it can take them.
