Education: Book vs. Physical

Education and knowledge are multidimensional concepts. In addition, every person learns and retains the knowledge they study in different ways using unique techniques. For that reason, there is no way of choosing the "best" way to learn. In many lessons, there always seems to be a need for balance.

What I have learned in attempting to get through nursing school is that the knowledge I have retained and use in my practice is 90% what I have gained from hands on experience in clinical. One of the things I have retained from textbooks, however, is that knowledge theorists believe there to be many different kinds of knowledge. There is logical, semantic, systemic, empirical, rational, to name a few. There are also different learners. I have come to find that the significance in learning about knowledge itself, is to find out what kind of knowledge I have retained, what strategies are best for me to retain that information and the  relevance it has in my overall intelligence.

From my experience, I have found that I am good at many things. Good at many things, but not great at any particular thing. I like to believe I am good at physical goal acheivement, interacting with others, learning new information, being creative and curious, and experimenting. I think practically. I am impulsive. I am intelligent in topics of my own interest. I like math. I enjoy learning from other people and their experiences.

I need more time, though, to process. Process all the information that is given to me. If there is a time limit, forget it. Reasoning is also not my strong point. Nor is critical thinking. Anyone who knows me is aware that I am incapable of making a decision most of the time.

I have come to find that I am more equipped in learning kinesthetically and enjoy learning about concepts that have physical meaning to me. That link up with an experience I am familiar with, or seen in the past, and am then able to expand on. I am also interested in learning through conversation, application, and peoples expression and emotion of a certain topic. While I can read it in a book, to experience a person in that situation is the type of knowledge that I am able to truly understand.