Education is Labor

As September 2014 comes to a close, we take a look back at what has been the theme for the month "The Labor of Education".  Labor is hard work.  That which requires laboring needs hard workers who are willing to put effort into achieving an objective.  Some labor can be done by individuals who have been given knowledge and have trained in skills that are essential for success.  Some labor requires that individuals work together as a team while grouping those who share similar skills and knowledge so as to develop special units which facilitate the work of the team.  Education is a labor which requires us to learn, study, and teach.  Together, these three stages make up the educational process.

The education process is composed of three stages: Learning, Studying, Teaching.  Each one of these stages facilitates the education process, and can be done with efficiency by following the steps that we discussed in 5 Steps to Efficient Learning, 4 Steps to Efficient Studying, and 3 Steps to Efficient Teaching.  Here is a brief look at the steps which should be taken in each stage of the education process:

Learning
 - Place & Time
 - Appropriate Skills & Knowledge
 - Engage with Others
 - Persevere through Patience
 - Plan for More

Studying
 - Evaluate
 - Correct
 - Apply
 - Repeat

Teaching
 - Be Prepared
 - Be Engaging
 - Be Fair


Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

5 Steps to Efficient Learning

Learning is quite laborious.  It is a challenge to learn, and for some of us, it can be a difficult challenge to overcome.  To help those who struggle with learning, and to make the labor of learning more efficient, we present he following 5 Steps to Efficient Learning.

1. FIND A PLACE & MAKE TIME.  It is important for those who are learning to have an adequate place where learning can take place.  This can be the library or media center in school or city.  One can also choose a place in the house, for example a study place, the living room, bedroom desk, etc.  The place chosen should provide a positive learning environment and be free of possible distractions which may interfere with the educational process.  Time is also an important factor to take into account. Too much time will lead to overwhelming and burnout.  Too little time will not allow for proper learning development. Choose an amount of time which is adequate for the task. Recommended time ranges from 30 minutes up to 3 hours.
2. CHOOSE APPROPRIATE SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE.  As students progress through their education they must choose which skills or knowledge are appropriate for them to learn.  Learning builds on learning, and it is recommended that students begin with a basic introduction before moving on to more advanced subject areas.
3. ENGAGE WITH OTHERS.  Share what you learn.  Argumentation is a great way for learners to share what they have reviewed, practice, and studied.  By engaging with others we can expand our knowledge and skills, while providing the possibility for innovation and imagination.
4. PERSEVERE THROUGH PATIENCE.  Patience is needed to learn.  Much of becoming educated comes from attempting that which may be either unknown or unfamiliar to us.  It comes from taking risks and being wrong at times even in front of our classmates.  But we keep trying and trying and ask for help until success is reached.
5. PLAN FOR MORE.  Learning is never ending. It can take a lifetime and one can dedicate their life toward the pursuit and development of an area of interest.  There is more learning to be achieved through the many established educational levels: Grade school, High school, College, Grad school, Work and Employment, and some learning which is entirely up to us to master and unlock.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Learning is Education's Labor

It takes a great deal of learning to become educated.
Learning is a great deal of labor.
It follows then,
that in order to become educated,
One must labor a great deal through learning.

Although labor is hard work,
it is worth doing, worth pursuing,
for its output is often a great reward.

When learning is the labor,
education is the output,
and education is a great reward.
It is worth pursuing, it is worth doing.

A student should work, and work hard, at learning.
Students should learn how to learn.
Students who learn how to learn
can become educated sooner
and with less difficulties
in a supportive learning environment.

How can a student work hard at learning?
1) Find a place and make time to learn.
2) Choose appropriate skills/knowledge to be learned.
3) Engage with others and share what's been learned.
4) Persevere through patience.
5) Plan to learn furthermore.


Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.