Experience is the Best Teacher of All

[Flexi-Girl]

How many times have you tried to teach someone a fundamental truth? You've been there, done that, and you know inside out what you're speaking of, and still they don't get it. Likewise, you can't necessarily understand what someone else is speaking of because you haven't been in their situation. You're missing all the sensory data. Your picture is incomplete, and there is too much room for error in comprehension.

I could speak all day about the taste of chocolate, and those who've tasted it in the past might be enticed as their memories practically recreate the experience, but even those with the best imaginations cannot comprehend the taste of chocolate without the sensory experience.

It's both good and bad that we use words to convey information. They're like looking at a map of the terrain vs feet on the ground. That's why so often I have to be careful with my words. Those who know, know. They will get it with fewest of words. Those who don't know cannot know until they have the experience.

[Starman]

When I was teaching I would demonstrate to college students the journey from theory to experience. This would help them see the difference between book learning and actually doing it.

First I would write the word "Apple" on the blackboard and ask students to write down something about this word. Some students wrote down computer, or teacher, or grannysmith apples, etc.

Then I would show them a picture of a Red Delicious Apple and ask them to write down something about that picture, then after that I would hand out real apples for them to bite into, and ask them to write something about that.

It was amazing to see the transition, especially for those who wrote down the word "computer" when I wrote the word "Apple" on the blackboard. But words can also give us experiences.

People are inspired, which is and experience, by reading something. We can get experiences from just about anything. Experience is the great teacher, but is there a time when we can not experience anything? Just because we may not experience something does not mean it is not there, but at those times that thing does not exist for us.

[Flexi-Girl]

Originally Posted by Starman

When I was teaching I would demonstrate to college students the journey from theory to experience. This would help them see the difference between book learning and actually doing it.

First I would write the word "Apple" on the blackboard and ask students to write down something about this word. Some students wrote down computer, or teacher, or grannysmith apples, etc.

Then I would show them a picture of a Red Delicious Apple and ask them to write down something about that picture, then after that I would hand out real apples for them to bite into, and ask them to write something about that.

It was amazing to see the transition, especially for those who wrote down the word "computer" when I wrote the word "Apple" on the blackboard. But words can also give us experiences.

People are inspired, which is and experience, by reading something. We can get experiences from just about anything. Experience is the great teacher, but is there a time when we can not experience anything? Just because we may not experience something does not mean it is not there, but at those times that thing does not exist for us.

Huh... I hadn't considered that.

Well I suppose it's not always necessary to have an experience to get the main idea. Thank you Starman.

Out of curiosity, what did you teach?

Dead right. It's impossible to describe sensations except in the weakest terms. There's no experiential vocabulary. If I tell someone I have a headache no one could appreciate the quality of my particular ache. If they've never had a headache the statement would be meaningless unless they've had other aches but that still wouldn't describe my headache.
Try to describe red without pointing to or describing an object that's red... It won't work.
Try to describe the taste of an apple. You could say sweet or sour or powdery or something but those qualities aren't limited to just apples. The sensation that gives a particular apple its appleness is unique to the individual.
.

[Starman]

Originally Posted by Flexi-Girl

Huh... I hadn't considered that.

Well I suppose it's not always necessary to have an experience to get the main idea. Thank you Starman.

Out of curiosity, what did you teach?

The class where I did the exercise I described in my post was a Freshman, intro class to the human services, it was manly for entry level counselors. I taught out of the behavioral science department at the University of Colorado. 5-topical subject classes in the spring semester and 5 different topical subject classes from that, mainly Freshmen and Sophomore, during the fall semester. All of the subjects were related to the behavioral sciences. I enjoyed teaching very much.

[bluemoon]

I totally agree flexi girl.


... you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. We all learn through our own circumstances, no one else can get us there

[bluemoon]

Originally Posted by Starman

The class where I did the exercise I described in my post was a Freshman, intro class to the human services, it was manly for entry level counselors. I taught out of the behavioral science department at the University of Colorado. 5-topical subject classes in the spring semester and 5 different topical subject classes from that, mainly Freshmen and Sophomore, during the fall semester. All of the subjects were related to the behavioral sciences. I enjoyed teaching very much.

That’s amazing, no wonder your so good at advising here

[Flexi-Girl]

Originally Posted by Starman

The class where I did the exercise I described in my post was a Freshman, intro class to the human services, it was manly for entry level counselors. I taught out of the behavioral science department at the University of Colorado. 5-topical subject classes in the spring semester and 5 different topical subject classes from that, mainly Freshmen and Sophomore, during the fall semester. All of the subjects were related to the behavioral sciences. I enjoyed teaching very much.

Behavioral science seems like a fascinating subject.

[inavalan]

There is a hard way and there is a smart way to almost everything. You have to learn as much as possible from others' experience, and not repeat their learning cycle.

'I can't teach anybody anything,i can only make them think'~Socrates.

And can't agree more,re:experience is the best teacher.

Direct experiencing.