Unit I. Lesson 2
We rarely hear someone say “I was sitting in a classroom focusing really hard when I had a brilliant idea”. We do know stories of people who were inspired or had their big revelation during an everyday task. Informal situations and experiences trigger our curiosity more, prompting us to explore and discover new ways of doing things, because learning can happen anywhere.
Growing up, I was constantly told by the adults around me that any time spent not sitting at a desk pouring over a thick book was idling. However, the world today has thankfully progressed much further since my school days. Eating, tying shoelaces, counting the steps you take while walking, measuring ingredients for cooking, exploring the different types of fruits and vegetables at the supermarket,
observing the road signs or the colours of the vehicles in the traffic, all these are great learning opportunities.
We learn best when we are immersed in learning experiences that are active, engaged, meaningful, and interactive. “Learning through doing” is the most effective way to learn. Everyday life happens outside of classrooms and schools, where we come into direct contact with reality.
Did you know that physical exercise promotes intellectual growth? When children are moving and engaging in physical activities, they explore and interact with the world around them. They learn how to use their senses.
Most of us would describe doing absolutely nothing as the opposite of learning. On the contrary, idling and feeling bored supports the brain development, for the reason that it gets space to think. This prompts children to unleash their imagination and let those creative juices flow. Giving children the freedom to decide what to do and how do to it, promotes their autonomy.
In conclusion, it is necessary to remember that learning is not exclusive to classrooms and schools. It cannot and should not be limited to studying, homework and assessments. The moment we embrace the idea that learning can happen all around us, we will start experiencing the joy of fun learning in our
everyday lives.
(by Claire Sanders)
