Do you think school needs to change its emphasis on learning from theory-based t!

Do you think school needs to change its emphasis on learning from theory-based to application-based?

I saw Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix 2 nights ago. I'm a Potterhead and I thought the movie was the Bee's Knees. My Mom, younger brother and I were discussing the movie afterwards for a good while and a point came up that sparked a thought inside of me that is ever present in my thoughts. School. Theory or Application? By the context of Book 5, I'd say J.K Rowling votes for Application and so do I. Defence Against the Dark Arts is real and it's raw : a metaphor for the challenging aspects of life in our own world. The Ministry of Magic via Dolores Umbridge promotes teaching D.A.D.A through theory, through copying the text, all in a safe, risk-free way. L-A-M-E. Harry and Hermione echo the sentiments of all students who have ever had to endure this sorry excuse for learning, "How does this teach us anything?" Answer : It doesn't. I love Hogwarts (as do Potterheads worldwide). It's magical because there is magic, but, even more essentially, because what is learned is useful.

1 week ago
I think Theory (reading) is fine, during free time. School should be about Action. Traditional teaching ignores the fact that students are humans not computers. Learning requires that the human senses are stimulated : sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell, and ,most importantly : feelings. Traditional teaching is devoid of excitement and a sense of adventure. In the movie, a central contrast is between Dolores' teaching of DADA and Harry's. Dolores = Dull, Dumbing, Draining. Harry = Hip, Heightening, Healthy. Students aren't Stupid. It demeans them to pass off memorization of facts as learning. That is why Hermione was wise to encourage Harry to teach. Harry is full of passion. He's the kind of teacher that inspires his students. He is also lucky to have the freedom to teach his way, with no bureaucratic hoops to leap through, adapting himself to each students needs, he creates an atmosphere of confidence, friendly competition, and accomplishment. God. I wish school had been like that.

1 week ago
My brother and a good friend of ours read my question posted in another category. They pointed out theory (reading) is vital because it provides guidance. Rereading my question I decided to add to my original details the following : I believe reading is essential, but it dominates school overmuch. I think action is far and away more valuable. I don't think a balance between theory and application is what is needed; I think a predominance of action with short, strategic inserts of reading for reference and background knowledge is the best method for ensuring that what is taught is actually learned. / I have a question within a question. How many people here remember how to do the Dense, Mass, Volume formula from Physics? How about Stoichiometry from Chemistry? The Kreb's Cycle from Biology? The cultural significance of Mesopatamia from History? How about conjugating the passe compose of aimer from French? Subjuntivo of amar in Spanish? The different meters of sonnets from English? no..?

1 week ago
Hey Pfo. I believe that "thinking outside the box" aka "innovation" comes from being inspired by life, not by being forced to memorize a bunch of meaningless dates in History, atomic numbers in Chemistry, the genus' of plants in Biology,or the method for solving a quadratic equation in Math. I think school needs to inspire students and that is accomplished by teaching them stuff that yields tangible results, things that they can feel proud of, not writing out a mundane essay, or solving a bunch of math problems. I believe that understanding comes from "feeling" that you understand not "thinking" you understand, and that feeling comes from human senses telling you you do understand. / Hey jbneshmilt. A good mix sounds like a good all around strategy but it doesn't actually work out that way does it? School is so heavily bureaucratic that the creativity teachers need to adapt learning is a convoluted nightmare. Mix is good, but school needs to prepare kids for work. Fast food future :(

I think that you need a good mix of both theory and application. No one persons learns the same way. Some ppl learn by doing and some by seeing (reading). Our education needs to be a good mix of all different learning styles.