More On Incentives

I’m constantly amazed by the number of people who seem to have learned
nothing during four years at university. Until recently I’ve wondered how it
was possible, but now I think I understand.

People who learn a lot in college are the people who had questions floating
around in their heads before they got there. They’re curious. They have a
sense of wonder about the world. As such, when answers (or provocations) are
offered, they are subconsiously paired with their natural curiosity, and
learning ensues.

Those who don’t benefit from school simply aren’t tuned to the world’s
questions, and as such they are unable to appreciate potential answers. I
finally groked this when I asked myself why I didn’t learn more in my
programming classes in college.

The reason is now very clear: it wasn’t interesting to me. I thought I was going to be a sysadmin, or a “networking” guy. I didn’t
really know
what I was going to be, but I was damn sure it wasn’t going to be a
programmer.

Because of this I went on autopilot, i.e. the mode where you say to your
brain, “Temporarily absorb the minimum required to get the grade you want in
this class. Nothing more.”…and that’s no way to learn.

So what’s the answer? The answer is for parents and teachers to foster
within children curiosity and interest in a wide range of subjects. Don’t
impart knowledge, per say, but the thirst for understanding. This way, when
the opportunity to learn something presents itself it will be embraced
enthusiastically instead of being ignored or mechanically processed for a
short-term goal.