Stephen R. Dalby
Learning, the Socrates Way
The process of obtaining a masters degree from Michigan State University has been an eventful journey, to say the least. There have been challenges, frustrations, time commitments, pressures, and a lot of reading and writing. However, there have also been moments where I have seen glimpses of growth and progress that have shown me that it will all be worth it. As I am about to complete a very eventful learning period of time a great question to ask myself is, "How am I going to continue to acquire the knowledge needed to excel in my profession in the future?"
Socrates said once that, “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”
I believe that sometimes when we speak of learning, whether in the present or giving reference to the future, we look at this topic with an eye of 'arrival' or something that is finished. Learning, the 'Socrates way' suggests the idea that education is something that is kindled, not completed. It's something that drives us consistently, not casually or sparingly. I have two specific goals that I believe will assist me on my path of learning and professional development after the MAED program is finished. Namely, continue my desire to read, and don't be afraid to try new practices and technologies as a teacher.
READING
First, reading. There was once an uneducated boy who was born in Kentucky, raised on a farm in Indiana, and had a total of twelve months of formal education. His name was Abraham Lincoln. Somewhere along the way Honest Abraham developed a love for reading and it became a passion. It is widely accepted that Abraham Lincoln was one of our countries most self-educated men. Once Abraham kindled a spark for reading, that spark quickly grew until it became a well-lit flame! In fact, one of the most common places to find “Abe” was lying back down on a log, with a book, wearing a hat. Authors like Aesop, Shakespeare, Blackstone and the Bible were among his favorites. On one occasion Lincoln said,
“All I have learned, I learned from books.”
If I were to write of the one thing that that has influenced me the most at MSU, it would be the discovery
of reading. I never thought I would enjoy readings about medicine, fishing, business, and law but the
more I read, the more I wanted to read. In my estimation, reading may be one of the purest motivators
that exists because it initiates thinking and action from within, and has very little external factors of
motivation. So, how can I continue to excel in my occupation? I can set regular and consistent goals of
reading. Therefore, I am giving myself a challenge to read one book every quarter. I know this may sound
small, but four books a year for the next ten years will make a big difference in the long run.
FEAR
The second way that I plan on continuing my progression has to do with an awful four-letter word, fear. While there are few who truly understand it, fear may be the one obstacle that gets in the way of almost every true professional’s progression. Fear is paralyzing, goal thwarting, and progress halting. It is so powerful that if we are not careful it can halt our progression, limit our opportunities, and handicap our journey in this life. Fear of what you may ask? The fear to fail. I have seen so many people, especially in the world of teaching, who essentially teach the same lesson plan just with different content. Why? Because, it works for them and anything else could result in, failure! So what am I going to do to continue to grow? I am going to continue to try new teaching techniques, new lesson outlines, new technology, and I am not going to be afraid to fail. Just because a lesson may not go well, doesn’t’ mean that I’m a failure. It just means that I need to continue to learn and progress in that approach. In my opinion there is a stark difference between a teacher who has ten years experience trying new ideas, approaches, and lesson plans, and one who has tw0-years repeated five times.
In conclusion, if I can carry with me the love of reading and remain true to my commitment of overcoming fear, these two principles will assist me in my continued journey to become a professional long after my MAED program is completed. So what has MSU taught me? Perhaps what has influenced me the most is that it has instilled in me a desire to read and the courage to try new ideas and technologies in the classroom!
