My Saint Patrick's Day entry
First, I did not wear green on this Saint Patrick's Day. Second, I did not get pinched. ;-)
I had a dream today, where I was asked to teach a university class. While teaching the class, I felt very out-of-place teaching the class. Most instructors have doctorates in their subjects. And the minimum qualification is to have a graduate degree. I have only an undergraduate degree in the subject I was teaching. This dream made me want to get a graduate degree. Also, people say: "When I was in graduate school..." and talk about that life experience. I want to have this life experience, myself. Graduate school is where one earns their wings in the subject.
In my viewpoint, there are several levels of knowledge. At the lowest level, there is learning. In this level one is either a student or an apprentice. Above that level, there is the level of practice. At this level one practices the knowledge or skills that were learned. Above that, there is teaching, research, and discovery. At this level, one teaches their knowledge and shares their experiences with students or apprentices. Another thing that is done at this level is research or discovery. Research is done and discoveries are made using the knowledge that was learned in the previous two levels. Those discoveries become part of the body of existing knowledge and they are taught to students and those who practice. So, in short, here are the levels of knowledge:
Level 1. Learning: student or apprentice: new knowledge is learned and new skills are acquired
Level 2. Practice: practitioner or worker: knowledge or skills learned as a student are now used
Level 3. Teaching/discovering: teacher, master or professor: knowledge is taught, and discoveries are often made through advanced research, using the knowledge and skills learned in the previous two levels.
These three levels are not compartmentalized; they often blend together seamlessly. For example, an apprentice can practice a skill, even if they do not have completed full training. They can practice what they already know. Similarly, it is possible that an apprentice could even impart their skills to an apprentice of their own, while still studying under a teacher. A person who practices a skill can teach it to others, without formally being declared a teacher or master. And those in the highest level of a skill can be students of even a more knowledgeable teacher.
In some of my math classes, my fellow students were math teachers or instructors, already being paid to teach. I often spoke to my friends, who were pursing doctorates in their fields (the highest level) and felt that they knew almost nothing in their fields, after having learned it for many years. Knowledge makes us aware of just how much we truly know: we know almost nothing. If knowledge were like a great ocean, the most knowledgeable scholars would have but a few drops. The rest of us have even less.
Even though I have only an undergraduate degree, I must get busy on writing some tutoring materials. I hope to write in here later.
I had a dream today, where I was asked to teach a university class. While teaching the class, I felt very out-of-place teaching the class. Most instructors have doctorates in their subjects. And the minimum qualification is to have a graduate degree. I have only an undergraduate degree in the subject I was teaching. This dream made me want to get a graduate degree. Also, people say: "When I was in graduate school..." and talk about that life experience. I want to have this life experience, myself. Graduate school is where one earns their wings in the subject.
In my viewpoint, there are several levels of knowledge. At the lowest level, there is learning. In this level one is either a student or an apprentice. Above that level, there is the level of practice. At this level one practices the knowledge or skills that were learned. Above that, there is teaching, research, and discovery. At this level, one teaches their knowledge and shares their experiences with students or apprentices. Another thing that is done at this level is research or discovery. Research is done and discoveries are made using the knowledge that was learned in the previous two levels. Those discoveries become part of the body of existing knowledge and they are taught to students and those who practice. So, in short, here are the levels of knowledge:
Level 1. Learning: student or apprentice: new knowledge is learned and new skills are acquired
Level 2. Practice: practitioner or worker: knowledge or skills learned as a student are now used
Level 3. Teaching/discovering: teacher, master or professor: knowledge is taught, and discoveries are often made through advanced research, using the knowledge and skills learned in the previous two levels.
These three levels are not compartmentalized; they often blend together seamlessly. For example, an apprentice can practice a skill, even if they do not have completed full training. They can practice what they already know. Similarly, it is possible that an apprentice could even impart their skills to an apprentice of their own, while still studying under a teacher. A person who practices a skill can teach it to others, without formally being declared a teacher or master. And those in the highest level of a skill can be students of even a more knowledgeable teacher.
In some of my math classes, my fellow students were math teachers or instructors, already being paid to teach. I often spoke to my friends, who were pursing doctorates in their fields (the highest level) and felt that they knew almost nothing in their fields, after having learned it for many years. Knowledge makes us aware of just how much we truly know: we know almost nothing. If knowledge were like a great ocean, the most knowledgeable scholars would have but a few drops. The rest of us have even less.
Even though I have only an undergraduate degree, I must get busy on writing some tutoring materials. I hope to write in here later.