You are not just memorizing and regurgitating random facts in school. You are learning how to learn.
The question of what we are really learning in schools sounds like the answer is very complex, but what if the answer is simple. Whenever my younger brother and I would ask my dad what we were learning in school, his response was always, “You are learning how to learn.” I never understood it as I thought I was just learning random facts, and would even find the answer to be annoying. But as the brain matures and develops, it tends to think more logically. According to the Science of Learning Panel, “better reasoning ability with age is associated with a better ability to consider alternatives from stored knowledge.”
A good example of this claim would be when one is in geometry class. Yes, you are learning about shapes, but you are also learning different ways to look at problems, and different ways to problem solve. When you are in English class, not only are you writing essays, but you are also learning how to put your thoughts into words, and how to communicate with the world around you. When you are in science, not only are you learning about the periodic table, you are also learning about the world around you, and how to ask questions.
The more you think about the big picture as to what you are actually doing, the more apparent it is that you are simply learning how to learn. Even when you are not in class. Even when you are just simply walking the halls with your friends. You are learning how to communicate and build relationships. It is amazing to think about how many lifelong skills one learns within one singular school day. Yes, learning how to learn is difficult, as it “involves a complex and dynamic interaction of cognitive, metacognitive, motivational, affective, and behavioral processes selected to enhance the probability of reaching a goal for knowledge acquisition or application.” And it is easier for one to believe that they are just learning random facts for fun, but once one has the patience to sit down and ponder, the actual reasoning for school no longer seems useless.
Although some may argue that you are learning how to memorize and regurgitate random facts, it is apparent that you are really learning how to learn.
With the knowledge and thought of going to school to learn how to learn, school becomes a lot more interesting. You stop looking at school as a chore, and more as a beautiful opportunity that one should take advantage of.
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