Education

Overview

The education of an individual human begins at birth and continues throughout life. (Some believe that education begins even before birth, as evidenced by some parents' playing music or reading to the baby in the womb in the hope it will influence the child's development.) For some, the struggles and triumphs of daily life provide far more instruction than does formal schooling (thus Mark Twain's admonition to "never let school interfere with your education"). Family members may have a profound educational effect — often more profound than they realize — though family teaching may function very informally.

Related Topics:
Life - School - Mark Twain - Family

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The origins of the word "education" reveal one theory of its function: the Latin educare comes from roots suggesting a "leading out" or "leading forth", with possible implications of developing innate abilities and of expanding horizons.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Formal education occurs when society or a group or an individual sets up a curriculum to educate people, usually the young. Formal education can become systematic and thorough, but its sponsor may seek selfish advantages when shaping impressionable young scholars.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Life-long or adult education has become widespread. Lending libraries provide inexpensive informal access to books and other self-instructional materials.

Related Topics:
Adult education - Libraries

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many adults have given up the notion that only children belong "in school". Many adults enroll in post-secondary education schools, both part-time and full-time, which often classify them as "non-traditional students" in order to distinguish them administratively from young adults entering directly from high school.

Related Topics:
Adult - Child - Post-secondary education - Non-traditional students - High school

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Computers have become an increasingly influential factor in education, both as a tool for online education (a type of distance education) and e-learning. By this approach, individual students can access lessons and materials easily via the Internet and CD-ROM (for example, via a WebQuest) and participate in a range of interactive online learning activities.

Related Topics:
Computer - Online education - E-learning - Internet - CD-ROM - WebQuest

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~