Education comes not from books alone but from practical hands on experiences

Albert Einstein once said, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school” With this quotation, Albert Einstein was hinting at the importance of being educated with the ability to think for one’s self and the constant improvement of the mind through the process of learning. Einstein was pointing out that the aim of education was to teach one how to think rather than what to think, to improve the mind through learning and intellectual challenges so that a person can learn to think for his or her self. Einstein was simply saying that education would be worthless if it teaches people how to make a living but doesn’t teach them how to make a life. From this quotation, it is easy to understand that education is a lifelong process which has numerous benefits and rewards later in life. There are three steps in the process of learning: using books, hands on experience and observation.

The first step in the process of learning is to read and study subject matters through the use of books. Books are a set of printed works and collections of illustrations that can either be produced in electronic form or on sheets of paper. A book can refer to works of literature like War and Peace or the Count of Monte Cristo or biographies that tell a story about a person’s life.  A text book is usually used to convey subject matter to students studying a particular topic. It is found that in most subjects such as mathematics, literature and history, the use of books greatly improves the way the material is learnt and also best serves the purpose of teaching. The reason for this is simply because subjects such as literature and English are reinforce by studying works of literature and reading several books. The most important use of books in today’s society is for writing. Writing is the most powerful tool invented by humankind because it is a tool of the mind. A good advantage of using books is that it is easy for the authors to share their thoughts and opinions with the reader, and as most readers would find, it can be easy or difficult to understand the authors’ point of view or perspective.  When studying for a Bachelors degree or an MBA, the primary source of education is the use of text books. The reason for this is that books increase the knowledge pool of the students enrolled in the course and it also stimulates the mind, especially, when students come together to do a group work or finish a project.

              Practical experience is another vital step in the process of learning. Practical experience is important when learning skills that require physical ability or dexterity. Most organizations and institutions require that their employees and interns demonstrate their ability to apply the knowledge and skills gained from their formal education to a workplace environment. Students and workers alike are expected to assume higher levels of responsibilities as the advance through their studies and work. The Medical profession and the Engineering profession require the student and worker to have in depth knowledge of the techniques employed and also a certain amount of experience working in the theatre or in the fields. Through this practical experience, doctors and engineers can demonstrate that they have progressed to a level of employment with a well rounded knowledge acquired through studying and hands on experience, and that they are ready to apply these skills at work. Parenthood is another example where practical experience plays an important role. The art of parenting can be a daunting experience for most couples, especially in the early years of child bearing. Therefore most parents seek professional help with parenting. Some parents attend parenting classes together and try to be involved in their children’s lives especially in the teenage years of adolescence.  However, as time goes on, most parents find that their parenting skills have improved due to the fact that they have gained more experience caring and nurturing their families together. Practical experience is both beneficial to students and to the community. For the student, such as the medical doctor, or the car mechanic, practical experience can boost self esteem and improve self confidence.  For the community, practical experience can help the community come together to solve problems and issues that they face. Communities and community agencies openly value and support those individuals who come together to set the trends in society, make changes and challenge the views held within society.

Although not as tactile, observation is also very important in the process of learning. In the days of old, children learnt from their elders by observing them work. Many elders taught their children in the villages through the art of observation. Hunting, fishing, farming, cooking and making clothes were all skills that were learnt by observing the elder work. When out hunting, the little children would follow closely behind the hunter and watch his move and hunting style. They would observe how he tracks his prey and what time of the year was the best to hunt for prey in the forest and what time was not. Through the art of observation young adults learn how to cook and make clothes which they sell for a good profit. The art of weaving has been passed down from generation to generation by several cultures in different parts of the world. Through this process of observation, many people who cannot afford to go to school learn how to make a living for themselves and for their family.

To summarize, education is part of the process of learning which takes place through the use of books, practical experience and observation. Education in the 21^st century has become technological and innovative, both in the manner in which it is presented and the way in which it is applied. Various tools and systems make learning easy and affordable for many students in the 21^st century. Education in today’s world brings together people of different backgrounds, with diverse views, cultures and religious beliefs. As a result, many students and academics have come to realize the need for an open minded approach toward learning.