Beech Tree News Network

As schools begin to reopen, I’ve been thinking about learning. Someone said, “Learning can be defined as a process through which people acquire new knowledge, skills, or attitudes as a result of some type of study or experience. Learning occurs over time and should be considered a lifelong process or experience” (http://web.stanford.edu/group/SLIP/TIPS/Teaching.html). Learning can occur anywhere about anything.

The website teachthought.com has an article called “31 Surprising Facts about Learning” (http://www.teachthought.com/uncategorized/31-facts-about-learning/). Four of the facts listed were:
•    Playing scary and violent video games help children master their fears in real life.
•    Teaching kids at a very early age is counterproductive to their learning.
•    Drama and comedy in the classroom encourage children to listen and participate.
•    Children who are encouraged to talk to themselves aloud have increased probability of learning.
Each fact listed also included an explanation. The article was interesting and informative.

I wondered what others might have learned recently, so I asked friends and family about their recent learning. Their responses are listed below:
•    I have researched the responsibilities and limitations of our fiscal court and Judge Executive this week.
•    I learned not to post political stuff on Facebook!
•    One of the presidential candidates is not only discourteous, but also not very smart.
•    I learned to do a front flip in the air and a front handspring on the trampoline.
•    Even though I want things immediately and think it matters to get them quickly, if I will calm down, wait and work not to rush, things come easier and are more appreciated. I also make wiser choices that way.
•    I’ve learned that the people who give their opinions the most don’t want to hear anyone else’s opinion.
•    Recently I have learned all about weddings, showers, and etiquette for them.
•    What have I learned lately? As old as I am, I’ve learned a lot in my life. But what has become evident to me lately is that people live their lives, death comes, and the only way anyone knows you existed is through the memories in people’s hearts. Hopefully, there is someone who has fond memories.
•    I learned that I can push the home button twice quickly on my iPhone to scroll through all the open apps. Swiping up will turn unused apps off. This saves battery power and helps the phone run better. The girl who used to babysit for us showed me, and she was happy to teach me because I’m usually trying to teach her how things work.
•    There used to be cattle in the field by our house. They brought horse flies that we battled to stay outside in the evenings and the aroma of manure when it rained. The cattle are gone now, and there is a beautiful field of corn. I have really enjoyed watching it grow and the absence of horse flies. We have a new pest now that recently emerged. Corn flies is what someone called them – the swarm of pesky little bees that love to bite. I’ve learned that with every good there is a bad. What I’d really like to learn next is how to repel these bees!
•    Make sure you know the whole story before you speak!
•    Politics is not for the faint of heart; the evil in the world is spreading exponentially; and life is too short and fragile.
•    Reaffirmed old wisdom:  Marriage is the hardest endeavor you will love doing.
•    I have learned that a lot of what I said when I was younger was because I hadn’t been through a particular experience yet and that I really don’t know much at all. It’s a good thing God is in control, and I’m not worrying much anymore about things that are out of my control.

Leonardo da Vinci said, “Learning never exhausts the mind,” (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_learning.html). Charles Spurgeon said, “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge”
(http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_knowledge.html). Learning not only happens within a school building, but is a lifelong process. And, it should affect our choices.