Course assignment – Reflection 1

This report begins with the concept that humans are inherently curious beings. This is a simple concept but it is a key in education. Informal science learning experiences hinge on this concept. I is a child growing up remember many times that it seemed I learned much more during the summer vacations than I did during the school year. Every summer our family would embark on a trip off into a national park or historic landmark. I can remember the enjoyment my brother and I would receive posing questions to the tour guides. Even when you are family went to visit other relatives we would find time to take a tour of the museum. I think this helped shape my own personal curiosity and desire to learn more especially in science. Growing up I also remember learning important lessons as the neighbors my brother and myself would build and launch Estes rockets. These were simple rockets made out of cardboard tubing and balsa wood for the nose cone and fans. This gave me a great deal of insight, as a young child, in aerodynamics. At the time I looked at each of these situations as either a fun summer vacation times or fun playing with friends. Now I see that they were wonderful examples of informal learning environments. Also I see that developing a project in an informal learning environment can be a very powerful tool that can impact all participants young and old alike. I also can remember opportunities I had, up in Albuquerque New Mexico where I was born and lived to the age of 13, involved in afterschool activities. I actually built in FM radio by first laying out the components on a schematic glued to a piece of wood. Nails were hammered in at junction points in the electronic components were soldered to these nails. Once the radio was assembled on the board and tested it was then disassembled and reassembled into a radio case. I still think I have that radio somewhere. So I for one can sure identify with the idea of learning outside the classroom.

In looking at the three concepts, lifelong learning, life–wide learning, and life–deep learning I really identify with them. I definitely consider myself a lifelong learner. I think the more I know the more I realize I don't know. Therefore I consider myself a lifelong learner. The concept of life–wide learning to me means that learning happens all around you in every aspect of your daily life there are things to be learned by opening up and realizing this you open yourself to be active in your passive learning. The last concept of a life–deep learning is critical so often we as adults have created an idea that our beliefs are the only ones that count and we often close our minds to others' points of view. I feel by doing this we are robbing others and ourselves the opportunity to learn.