Variables To Success #1: A look Within the Individual Learner

Education is evolving and can come in many different forms. Traditional education is constantly changing and needs to adapt to different ideas and experiences. The relationship between student and teacher is important, and teachers should try to find a teaching style that works best for each student. Learning styles are important for understanding, and education should be applicable and understandable. Self-teaching can be helpful, but it shouldn't be the only way students learn. Teaching styles need to evolve to meet the needs of students today. Transmitting understanding is more important than just transmitting knowledge. Creativity and technology have a place in education, but teachers need to teach students how to utilize different sources and tools. Success depends on both teaching styles and student effort. Teachers should be guides and support for students. Education plays a role in defining success, and it's important to find what works best for you. Hello, welcome to the very first episode of the variables to success podcast. My name is Nicolas Rodriguez, and I am your host for today's episode. I want to start off by thanking you for being here and listening to what I have to say about the idea of traditional education. First, I would like to ask you to think about a time when you have struggled in your education. What was the reason? Where do you think it can be related to? Now I want you to think about a time where you felt success in your learning. And how was this different? Now with those different experiences in mind, I want to centralize on what makes your learning successful. When looking at education on a broad scope, what can you say about it? For me, I would say that education is universal and experiences and an experience that can come in many different forms. However, it is within that that there are layers. Specifically considering a traditional education, I can see it as one of things that is constantly evolving. It is changing with the world we live in. And with each generation, there are different ideas and experiences that can correlate to education. When thinking about a student and a teacher dynamic, there needs to be a relationship that is cooperative and united. A teacher cannot teach in a way that applies to everyone. That's pretty much impossible. But that does not mean that they can try to figure out a way that works best. From personal experiences and hearing from friends and family, I can see a relationship between when they have felt struggles in education, and when they have succeeded. These have kind of all been related to students learning styles and the control that a teacher has with their teaching style. Now, before I go any further into the ideas of learning styles, I want to explore some different areas. Going back to American history, we have seen many developments in education, beginning with integration and how information is presented. When you look back, you can see how education has changed. It has become something that is for everyone. And in that it takes many different forms. Considering the writing from bell hooks, author of teaching to transgress, education can be seen as inclusive and revolving around the idea of freedom. Education is a freedom and people should be able to practice and appreciate it. However, when you look at experiences, you can see where this seems difficult or tends to fail. Learning styles are what works best for someone. It helps them understand. Education is a way to learn. It is a way to learn. Education is more than just being told and expected to remember. It needs to be applicable and thereby understandable. When that is successful, it is in those moments that you can see the true freedom that education gives you. For example, I have heard times when people have struggled to learn because it was a system of teaching and practice. This idea can work well for some people, but it lacks the idea of support. Students are expected to be taught one thing and then practice it on their own. This can be difficult for some people who need different examples and teaching practices to help them understand. Education should be about the student's ability to understand and then they can replicate, not simply learn and try out. When a student needs to resort to self teaching, it is almost eliminates the need for a teacher for that student. Now with that being said, I won't say self teaching is something that is not helpful or unnecessary because it is important and can be helpful. But when accompanied with school, it should not be the only way a student can learn. School can be very easy for some people, but other people have different styles of learning, and it can be very difficult for them. A teacher needs to be in a position of understanding. When they understand and express themselves truly, a student can connect with them and not just understand by themselves. Teaching styles need to evolve like education is evolving. This can create a balance for a student who's growing up in a different time and can help them succeed. While many people may not consider it, teaching styles and learning styles are vital to a student's success. While a teacher grew up in one way and learned in certain ways, that's not going to be the same for the students today. They need to look, analyze, and apply different styles in order to be a better guide for them. There's definitely a change in education today than there was, say, 10 years ago. And with that, it has to be shown in the way students are taught. Similar to what Tara Concan-Gibney says in their self study titled, Moving Beyond the Transmission of Knowledge in the Lecture Hall. Teachers should be focusing on the idea of transmitting understanding, not just the transmission of knowledge. Because those are two different things. Transmission of knowledge is what students hold. And through that, they can move on holding that knowledge and apply it. When you're transmitting understanding, you are transmitting understanding in that moment. They hold it for the class or any type of skill job opportunity in that time. But it's not really important to them if they can't hold on to it and apply it correctly. In this world with creativity and technology, there is a place for self learning. But when specifically in classes for those areas, it should not be the only way a student succeeds. When you're in classes where you're being taught how to create things, it depends a lot on the student. But it also depends on the teacher to teach them how to correctly use different sources and different tools in order to create something. If not, it is like you were being taught different ideas and techniques, but you're not taught how to utilize them in order to succeed. Minds are different, and there is analytical and creative thinking. These play a role in learning styles. However, a teacher cannot work to please both. There needs to be a medium that works for both. I won't say student success depends solely on teaching styles, but is benefactor. Because in all actuality, it is what the student does in order to make them successful. And it's a teacher's job to be there to be a guide and a support person in their journey. Success can be defined in many different ways depending on the student. But a teacher has to be there for their support. They cannot stand back, idle, and let them take control. They teach the information, but they also can teach lessons, not just in the subject, but in life. They can connect to students and help them succeed. So I'll say it again. Education is evolving. And with that we need to as well. This is a key to success and helping promote success. Now thinking back to the questions I asked at the beginning of this episode, has that been due to teaching style? How have you defined your success? Learning styles and teaching styles work together to help the student. When have you seen understanding rather than memorization? As I finish up, I want you to think about defining success and how education plays a role in that. In this world where education is necessary, you can learn anywhere. You just have to find what works best for you. And those instructors in your life need to be the accompaniment to your growth. So thank you for listening and I hope you enjoyed this episode. I hope you learned something throughout this episode and about the learning styles and teaching styles and what works best for you. How have those been a variable to your success?