Close Encounters of the First Kind
19/05/2007 10:28 PM
Today we were granted a "free day" in
order to explore Nantucket and all the island and its inhabitants
have to offer. A few of us (the heartier souls as we were
dubbed) decided to rent bicycles and explore 18 miles of paths on
one half of the island. It was invigorating, to say the
least. We anticipate sore legs, weak knees, and tender
shoulders; but we can handle it. The weather gods smiled upon
us as it did not rain; however, the sharp breeze and misty
atmosphere was less than ideal. On an island whose citizens
(both temporary and permanent) tend to worship the real, we found
the natural beauty and wonder that remains on this small piece of
land. After a day of walking and bicycling, all we looked
forward to, in my opinion, was a quiet evening of journaling and
bonding; however, we were scheduled to attend an astronomy
lecture.
Our instructor, Vladimir, was everything one hopes for in a teacher In his thick Russian accent, he talked about astronomy, Maria Mitchell, and what the students do every summer with the most fascinating exuberance. While most of what he was attempting to discuss with a bunch of English majors was above our heads (both literally and figuratively speaking), he brought the sky and history to life in more than a few ways. A few things about the hour and a half spent with this interesting man stand out.
He began by praising the woman for whom the association is named. As a teacher, I listened very carefully as he discussed how wonderfully gifted she was as an instructor. She inspired her students not by bribing them, but by challenging them with an unsolved problem. Vladimir explained that the adrenaline of being challenged and the drive to find the answer was enough to motivate the students to do their best. This seems like the most ideal teaching and learning situation. From a teacher's perspective, the students are directing their own learning with the instructor acting as a guide of sorts. From a learner's perspective, what learning occurs is self-discovered. The most authentic learning that occurs is that which is self-discovered, but how, then, can it be measured? Vladimir explained that Ms. Mitchell never assigned a grade to her students. She felt that the human intellect, potential, and learning experience could not be measured by a single number. I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately, teachers and even college professors are bound by institutions, students, and parents, all of whom are looking for a definite measure of success or material learned. I couldn't imagine the how different our education system would be without grades.
There was one other moment that I know I will never forget. I'm sure to our instructor the comment is commonplace, but to me the reality is clear. He was discussing life on Earth and he said that humans only have but a short time here. He claimed that if planet Earth was in existence for one day, then the time human beings spend inhabiting it would represent one second.
How significant we think we are. In actuality, our existence will be a mere moment in this planet's memory. The reality, put into context, is at once the most frightening and logical thing I have ever been told.
Our instructor, Vladimir, was everything one hopes for in a teacher In his thick Russian accent, he talked about astronomy, Maria Mitchell, and what the students do every summer with the most fascinating exuberance. While most of what he was attempting to discuss with a bunch of English majors was above our heads (both literally and figuratively speaking), he brought the sky and history to life in more than a few ways. A few things about the hour and a half spent with this interesting man stand out.
He began by praising the woman for whom the association is named. As a teacher, I listened very carefully as he discussed how wonderfully gifted she was as an instructor. She inspired her students not by bribing them, but by challenging them with an unsolved problem. Vladimir explained that the adrenaline of being challenged and the drive to find the answer was enough to motivate the students to do their best. This seems like the most ideal teaching and learning situation. From a teacher's perspective, the students are directing their own learning with the instructor acting as a guide of sorts. From a learner's perspective, what learning occurs is self-discovered. The most authentic learning that occurs is that which is self-discovered, but how, then, can it be measured? Vladimir explained that Ms. Mitchell never assigned a grade to her students. She felt that the human intellect, potential, and learning experience could not be measured by a single number. I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately, teachers and even college professors are bound by institutions, students, and parents, all of whom are looking for a definite measure of success or material learned. I couldn't imagine the how different our education system would be without grades.
There was one other moment that I know I will never forget. I'm sure to our instructor the comment is commonplace, but to me the reality is clear. He was discussing life on Earth and he said that humans only have but a short time here. He claimed that if planet Earth was in existence for one day, then the time human beings spend inhabiting it would represent one second.
How significant we think we are. In actuality, our existence will be a mere moment in this planet's memory. The reality, put into context, is at once the most frightening and logical thing I have ever been told.