- liz Tuohy
- Englewood, CO
- United States
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What if learning, rigorous learning, was a part of everyday life? How would it change us, our communities, our countries, the world?
When was the last time you "had to know" something? Does learning something require at its conclusion a test? In living life, with no requirements to learn, how many people today learn something new and difficult everyday? I'm suggesting that without the need to learn something new and difficult everyday, our minds become less able to process, and this in itself leads to becoming unaware. When this is a common descriptor of populations, its effects on world health in every area are devastating.
Ray Bannatyne
Rigorous daily learning and rigorous daily self-examination must go hand-in-hand.
Ray
liz Tuohy
I don't doubt that many people learn everyday. The very act of learning another language requires "rigor". But without this perspiration of our brains, we do not exercise it properly. It does not gain in capacity without strenuous work. Brain studies prove this out. In fact, it is quite possible that those in their later years in life who stop using their brains fully, lose the ability to use it proficiently. We may see more brain studies done on baby boomers, a generation known to push the boundaries of age, with respect to the "use it or lose it" belief.
Imagine if we all, generally, learned new things, difficult things, on a regular basis. Wouldn't that change how people perceived just about everything.
Debra Smith 200+
Zdenek Smith 100+
I see two trends in the world today. On one hand we see media feeding through TV and the Internet people with stereotypes, limited thinking and low quality entertainment with no or little education value.
On other hand, the Internet created a huge opportunity for masses to learn new things, become creative through their blogs and own media, exchange information and learn new things from speeches at TED and elsewhere. People also participate in more open source projects than ever before and compete on many levels including Google's Moon race competition.
I also see that more people than ever are forced to learn something new frequently because of their ever changing jobs. This applies mostly to office jobs and any job that requires the use of computer.
I think that it is important to realize that we need quality over quantity. I would rather if everyone learns more about history, politics, philosophy, ethics and psychology than anything else. Human communication and understanding of morality is still fairly lacking in my experience. =)
liz Tuohy
The rewards, as Alan and Kevin relate, are many, not only for me personally, but for those around me. My interest and comprehension of national and international affairs became deeper and more empathetic. I find I am more engaged in finding solutions than waving my fist in anger.
I wish for those, like Jafia, a positive experience in the rigors of learning, It sounds like it wasn't fulfilling for her. As a past educator, I am saddened that learning wasn't a lifelong goal for her and I cast some responsibility for this on systems of mass education. However, we all can throw off the negatives of learning in our pasts and create more positive experiences in learning that best fit us. I encourage you, Jafia, to explore it again. Rigorous learning is not an excess in life. It is a requirement for thoughtful citizens of the world.
Jáfia Câmara 50+
I am for "learning" on a daily basis, just not "rigorous learning" everyday.
Adj. 1. rigorous - rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard; "rigorous application of the law"; "a strict vegetarian"
strict
exact - marked by strict and particular and complete accordance with fact; "an exact mind"; "an exact copy"; "hit the exact center of the target"
2. rigorous - demanding strict attention to rules and procedures; "rigorous discipline"; "tight security"; "stringent safety measures"
stringent, tight
demanding - requiring more than usually expected or thought due; especially great patience and effort and skill; "found the job very demanding"; "a baby can be so demanding"
Debra Smith 200+
Jáfia Câmara 50+
Jáfia Câmara 50+
Kevin Rowe
I have to learn something new every day to keep up on my industry. And what I learn is usually applied shortly after. So how I absorb, analyze and implement what I learn has an immediate affect on the work I do. And because of this, I have become a better decision maker and member of society.
Alan Bishop
Learning does not have to be formally tested. Learners, however, should be encouraged to share what they have learned with others since, through discussion of others points of views a deeper learning may be achieved.
The societal effects of more people rigorously learning and sharing what they have learned with naturally inquisitive audiences helps us all to understand our world and each other in it. This can only be positive since this moves society away from being closed-minded, low in empathy and basing judgement on opinions without facts.
Kevin Rowe
I couldn't agree more with you statement "rigorous learning should be encouraged as a daily habit."