My Learning Metaphor

Learning Metaphor

 Hey everybody! My name is Ben Brown and I am a student at BYUI. I am an education major with hopes of becoming a teacher someday. This blog is intended to be the means through which I can share with anyone and everyone the different things that I learn and that I think are worth knowing.

First, I have been learning/experimenting with a pattern that David A. Bednar shared with the world in his book, Becoming A Learner, that when applied can more easily make use of the stuff we learn.

The pattern:

1. Doctrine = Why we do what we do
2. Principle = What we do
3. Tool = How we do

Second, I make an attempt to house this pattern in a visual metaphor.....

For my visual metaphor I have chosen the anatomy of man. I believe that the heart of man is the perfect home for any true doctrine. Then the human brain, being powered and fueled by the heart, makes it excellent housing for principles. And lastly, man’s hands, mouth, and ears are the workers of the mind. They can put into action the realistic and righteous designs of the mind.

(For those of you who don't know, this is Michelangelo's David)

Doctrine: God is our heavenly father.
 

Just as a beating heart sends power and life to the mind, the knowledge of our divine heritage motivates and inspires us to live certain principles.

Principles: Love, unity, service, and divine perspective for each other.

As the mind receives strength from the heart it is then driven to think, to plan and to act. In a similar way, understanding that we all come from the same heavenly father brings us to think of and feel love and unity. Knowing that we are all equally loved by God moves us to acts of kindness and to see others for what they really are.

Application: Pray for the capacity to see others for what they can be, treat others the way we would want to be treated, and treasure up the words of the Lord.

Finally, as the mind plans and thinks, it has need of physical or literal application. Through the power of prayer we can come to see each other for our true potential. Literal acts of kindness show people how God wants them to be treated. And through treasuring up the words of the Lord we can be prepared to then share and impart eternal truths.

So below I have a pile of doctrines, principles and tools that I have extracted from various authors. It's a work in progress but I intend to organize my thoughts here and show how what these people believed can be applied to life and learning.

Doctrine-Bednar-God is our eternal father. Principle- Pestalozzi-True education is opposed by the adversary. Learning is based on love and faith. Tool- Aquinas-Education is only complete with an understanding of God. Teach about God.

Doctrine-Beecher- the education of children is far too important to not take seriously. Principle-Wolk-School should be a sacred place for human beings where growth can thrive. Tool-Aquinas-Education is only complete with an understanding of God.

Doctrine-Addams-Education leads to happiness. Principle- Comenius- To be truly educated one must be well-rounded. Tool- Freire-One learns by trial and experience

Doctrine-Plato-line upon line. The soul of man is designed to learn and grow. Principle- Mass Bay-Education is essential for the common good. Tool- Rousseau-The family unit is where the most effective teaching can take place

         Imani Perry’s “A Black Student’s Reflection on Public and Private Schools” shares how her personal experience enabled her to contrast two different learning environments. Her first experience gave her the chance to learn in a place where all students, regardless of race or cultural background, were treated as individuals with limitless potential. They were encouraged to develop creativity, and be original. In her second experience she was shown that a poor quality of education and minimal personal growth are consequences of an environment that does not encourage creative thinking, and discriminates physical and cultural differences. Imani Perry ultimately chooses to return to the first learning environment and says, “One’s educational development is too important to sacrifice,” and rightly so. Understanding that we are all children of the same God is essential when undertaking the education of the rising generation.

 The following seven questions are what we like to call the Essential Questions. I have given my answers and I hope that as time goes by and I continue to learn that my answers/understanding will evolve.

1.      Who am I and what motivates me?

I would have to say that what motivates me is synonymous with who I am. Or in other words, what motivates me defines me. I am motivated by my testimony of God, our Eternal Father. Knowing where I come from and what God expects me to become gives me hope for a great future. It gives me a hope that is strong enough to lead me to take action in my own life and not wait to be acted upon. My family motivates me. The reality of being the head of a household fills me with a sense of responsibility that actually feels a bit like fear but also drives me to be consistent and dedicated to the best of my abilities in both my spiritual and professional life. Being the son of goodly parents motivates me. I have the enduring example of my parents and the many great things that they have accomplished that show me the way. The simple fact that they have done great and hard things gives me faith that I can too.

 

2.      How do I view those I teach?

I see the people that I teach as comrades in learning. I view the people I teach as important.

3.      What is my work as learner and teacher? I am going to change the word “work” for responsibility. I feel like my main responsibility as a teacher is to never stop learning. I think the day that I believe that I don’t need to learn anymore is the day I cease to be an effective teacher. I feel that my main responsibility as a learner is to teach, or to share. I think that learning without sharing is learning wasted. It would be like spending much effort, time and money on collecting a rare and precious piece of artwork and never looking at it

4.      What is worth teaching?

Truth is worth teaching. That which edifies is worth teaching. And that which calls one to act rather than to be acted upon is worthy of being taught in any classroom. I think that the things that help one to be developed socially, intellectually, spiritually, and physically are worth teaching.

5.      How do I learn?

One of the ways that I learn is through practice. Real learning always takes place in my life when I seek to understand through application in real life. I am an auditory learner as well. I learn best through the spirit. Seldom are forgotten the peaceful and sacred lessons that the Spirit has whispered to my heart at different times in my life. I think that behind all forms of learning the Spirit must be present.

6.      Upon what foundation are U.S. public schools built?

I think that public schools in the United States of America are built on a common need and interest. I think that public schools do not promote individual growth and that they are can be stifling to the creative mind.

7.      What is the role of school in society?

I think that school’s role in society today is to train to fill a position. I feel like it fills the roll of somewhere to send my kid during the day.