BellTime Magazine Autumn 2018 BellTime 10 lr | Page 12

BellTIME BellTIME Not all learners learn in the same way. Some of us learn by memorising facts, figures and dates. We commit things to short-term memory just to pass an exam. Others among us learn better by doing. The former is typified by hours and days repeating phrases and numbers to ourselves In the hope that something will stick long enough to get it down in an exam. The latter is more typically a version of “let me have a go”. Those of us who prefer to be doing things rather than memorising things are better suited to a hands-on style of learning. Sure, we need the theory and the mathematics and the science to underpin what we have done with our hands, but the question is as follows? Do we learn better by studying something that we might never experience or do in the real world? Or, do we learn better by doing something first, and then examining the theory and the science behind it? Some of us prefer to be doing things. Most of us study better when we know why the subject matter is important. 22 Our public exams system and our CAO system focuses almost exclusively on rote-learning. That doesn’t suit everyone. We need to show students, parents, teachers, and most of all guidance counsellors that there is a world, and a very rewarding world outside of just the CAO route to a college course. When travelling by air, would you prefer the plane to be flown by a pilot who has thousands of hours of flying experience in addition to his exams, or would you prefer a pilot who has passed all her exams but never flown a plane? Before the plane takes off, would you prefer to look out the window and see a mechanic repairing the plane who has passed all his exams and never seen foot in an airport, or would you prefer somebody who has a balance of practical and academic skills. If an academic career, with four or more years in college learning about things rather than learning how to do things is what you want, then there are plenty of options out there. If, however, you would prefer to do something practical first, before learning the theory, if you would prefer to have real-world experience on which to base the theory, maybe a different route would suit. Mark Deegan Head of Apprenticeship & Engagement, Dublin Institute of Technology, [email protected] 23