To Learn Effectively Try Breaking Boundaries
When society divides, education does not have to.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word boundary? Divides, borders, the line that no one crosses? In many sense, it points to a certain limit. However, have you considered that breaking boundaries can help you in getting a better education, or perhaps even your way of life?
Eliminating these unnecessary boundaries does not only apply to others — you can give yourself a go at it too. Try it sometimes and see how that opens up the communication with your inner-self, and allows you to achieve your long-shelved dreams.
In our daily lives, there are numerous human interactions. Let’s take a closer look at those in a school setting today. Teachers with students, students with their friends and nemesis. Many boundaries are being set up at the same time. Some are obvious, while often others lurk in the shadow.
Boundaries are formed for protection. From identity erosion, from ideas stealing, from sexual advancements, from unfairness (or fairness, depending on your perspective).
But what happens to those on the other side of the fence? Are they being penalised for something they didn’t do? Or couldn’t do anything about? Like being born in certain demographics, being underprivileged, etc.
In learning, there should not be boundaries. Let’s take a look at three boundaries which we can blast them out of our way. Without these fences, those within and outside can both benefit from the interactions between them, eventually.
Wealth
What is wealth to you? To me, being wealthy gives me security. For those who are pursuing their education, it could be a potential barrier for them. Being rich versus being poor — we all feel that constantly, no matter which side you are on.
With wealth, one can acquire educational tools such as books, tutors and enrolment in a private school. What else can wealth bring to the table? Basically everything and almost anything. Families with substantial wealth can even buy their way into schools and institutions of their choice. (Controversial? Let’s not kid ourselves)
However, families with low income have troubles sending their children to school. These families would constantly have to budget diligently, choose schools, and purchase educational tools that are within their means. They can’t just buy education easily like their richer counterparts.
No matter the colour of our skin, everyone bleeds red.
In the United States, less wealthy students would not complete at least two years of college than those who are wealthier. Highlighting the in-depth review from Ed100, 42% of students from high-wealth families with $100,000 and above are well-prepped for college and a career. While only 13% of those from a family income of under $36,000 have a chance.
There is a huge barrier between the rich and the poor. To break that down, students can learn to accept differences between one another. When we expose them to the same circumstances and environment such as within the school, we are therefore levelling the playing field and providing an opportunity for them to grow together.
By carefully designing the curriculum, we can break this ‘wealth barrier’ and allow students to appreciate and understand one another’s circumstances better. Knowing there are differences between the rich and poor, but how they could act upon such knowledge is more important.
For example, students who come from a wealthy family could share their learning materials to those who can’t afford it. As the saying goes, sharing is caring! (I had to, sorry. But hey, it’s true isn’t it?). The recipients will have better access to education tools and reciprocate by sharing other things. It can be any form like a helping hand, a listening ear, etc.
This can help to kickstart a mutual understanding and leading to a culture of sharing among the students.
Everyone Wins™!
Learning Abilities
As much as we are all human, we learn uniquely! There are many ways to categorise learning abilities. Let’s take a look at fast and slow learners, shall we?
The learning abilities for those who can study at a greater speed is when they can absorb information quickly and study independently with minimal supervision. As for the ones who are a little slower, they will get there.
This barrier between the fast and slow can be broken down for the two camps to better appreciate the differences between them. It does not mean that those who are slower would not succeed. Being fast or slow, both have their own advantages to achieve triumph.
Fast learners tend to understand things and concepts faster. Very often they outpaced their peers in class. Sometimes, they get bored and distracted because there is nothing much to stimulate them while waiting for the rest.
How about the slow learners? They spend more time on the materials at hand. They could have gone through the materials several times before coming to an understanding. But that understanding could be more thorough. They are likely to have broken down a huge chunk of information to smaller bits, just to understand better.
Coming from experience, I was a slow learner back in school, especially in Math. Usually, I’d take down notes in a step-by-step fashion, and then using that to solve the complex mathematical problems. Students have different paces of their own but at the end of the day, I’m pretty sure they all aimed to do well in their studies!
What if the fast learners could lend a helping hand to the ones that are lacking behind? It can present a much-needed stimulant to keep them engaged, while not knowingly getting a different perspective from the slow learners at the same time. The slow learners could be pointing out the stuff that the fast learners have missed out in the first place.
Everyone Wins™!
Ethnicity
In the classroom, many gathered in the same place but can be exposed to people of several different races. An interaction could build communication, and an exchange of ideas could spark off.
No matter the colour of our skin, everyone bleeds red. Removing unnecessary boundaries that could have existed. Let’s take racism as an example, how can this encourage individuals to unite and get work done despite of their differences?
An educator could have an open discussion for students. This helps to bring them into a better understanding of the issue and facilitate the respect for the different ethnicity within the classroom. Encouraging students to appreciate and celebrate the differences no matter how small or big they are.
Students are always welcomed to let their voices be heard, no matter which ethnicity they are from. This promotes effective learning for everybody.
Everyone Wins™!
Conclusion
It is your choice to set boundaries but think of how removing it could help improve your education, and in a bigger way — life. You can choose to make wise decisions and have a greater shot at success, while at the same time forging better relationships. Explore the boundaries that need to be taken down for a better quality of life, your life.
We can’t predict the future and may never know what is coming our way. Good and bad times come and go, but how we perceived boundaries could help us combat challenges. I’ve enjoyed much pleasure experiencing and overcoming these boundaries with the combined efforts of the people I have met along the way. Although we can have a very different concept of values, let’s take down these bricks one by one as we strive towards a common goal.
What are you waiting for? Start removing unnecessary boundaries that are holding you back and march into a new world filled with endless possibilities!
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