One of those questions that sometimes go unanswered is how we learn and grow. We go to school, absorb new knowledge; dream of who we will be when we open our eyes again as an adult.
However, do you know that there are different vehicles and paths we can choose to achieve our dreams? These different “pathways” are called pathways to education.
These pathways are like roads or trails that take us from where we might be today to another place in the future. I have a fun way to take the trip with you and explore these pathways, and why they are critical, but then connect us back down again.
Pathways to Education At A Glance
Education pathways are a guide map of our education journey. Just the way a road can take you to your friend’s place or park, these pathways open us up for new learning and development opportunities leading us closer to living the realities of our dreams.
We all have our own goals and interests, so by now, the many different paths toward success that we can pursue should be obvious. When we say “pathways to education” this is an umbrella term that contains all of the different ways you could learn and grow.
Therein lies the beauty of learning; it is not all about school. It is the experiences and opportunities that supplement what goes on in class.
The School Pathway
Today, the most commonly seen route for that is attending school. Schools are the only places where we meet teachers and good friends, learn about subjects like maths science, reading and art, activities playing games sports listening to music etc. Every school year seems like one more rung in our climbing ladder up to the people we also want to be.
In school, you begin in kindergarten, and then advance to elementary school, middle/ junior high (middle if not present)and then hopefully on to college.
Every grade level is building on a knowledge base that will help us once we enter the real world. I know, this pathway may be important for you simply because it provides fundamental tools on how to understand the world and move into that there.
Learning at Home
We cannot leave learning to just the schools alone. The Other Way to Education That is where families come into our learning process.
We learn a lot from our parents/caregivers even before we start school. They might be the one who teaches us how to tie our shoes, count to ten or read for the very first time.
Learning can be fun and creative at home. You could assist in making an evening meal and find out about the way you measure components or perhaps you may tend a garden. We still read books together, do educational games and talk about what we learned throughout the day.
Exploring the World Around Us
There are so many things to see in the world, exploring it is a different form of education. Learning as in when you go to a museum, on a nature walk or just gaze at the stars is indeed teaching. You start to understand how and where things are coming from, as well as why they matter.
Another way to explore and learn is travelling. One experiences new cultures, cuisines, languages and styles of life when one sets foot ashore in a foreign land.
And even if you do not travel far, an expedition to the community in which you live can offer a wealth of experiences about those who inhabit such landscape and become more kin with its ways.
Online Learning
One of these new methods for getting a good education in the modern world is online learning. The entire world of everything you could ever desire to learn, right from the comfort of your computer smartphone or tablet. From tutorials on how to draw, play an instrument, do puzzles or even learn a new language.
That is what makes online learning unique, you have the flexibility to learn in your convenient timeframes. Watch the video again or simply give yourself more time to practice if something is difficult.
If it is easy though, you move on to the next lesson. This is a very good way when either you can not go to school or maybe if u are willing to learn out of your studies.
Learning from Others
Another essential route to learning is through other people. This even includes people aside from your teachers, people like family members and friends or whoever you happen to come across every day.
We can learn something from all of them. A parent might weigh in on what the world was like when they were a child, or an older sibling could teach you how to play another game.
We also learn from others when we work together. School group assignments help you to share new ideas, listen or understand fellow learners and solve problems for the entire team. For this journey, we learn the value of teamwork and how each one offers a variety of different tasks for another.
Books as a Doorway to Education
For me, books are doorways to worlds of magic and imagination. Another prime educating way is through reading books. When you read a story about a heroic knight, exploring science or climbing the highest mountains in your mind when you are young it helps to learn things around all of that.
Books can also introduce you to new words, different ways of thinking and facts from some area in the world. The more you know, the better well-prepared and equipped for whatever direction in life you decide to follow.
Creative Learning
Another route to education is creativity where you have artistic freedom and out of box thinking as compared. It might be drawing, painting, storytelling creating music by a physical instrument or building something.
Learning for creativity is not the second attempt to learn from items; learning creatively equals creativity. Creativity opens your eyes to new ways of seeing.
What if your questions started to sound? “How do I improve this? Thinking like this teaches you how to fix things, think of new ideas and be inventive all of which are useful skills however one day decide what it is that will make your passion.
Road Called Trying New Things
Experimenting with something new is an enjoyable road to learning. Every new thing you try, whether it is to learn how to ride a bike or attempt to catch and learn a sports kit I.E. Science Kit each experience teaches something.
At times, you may not get it right the first time around and that is perfectly OK! By accepting our mistakes as opportunities for growth and making attempts we are already one step away from taming this new skill.
It is meant for you to be brave and with curiosity via this pathway. It lets you know that it is okay to leave your comfort environment and do something new. The longer you have been at this, the more tried and tested methods you know which instills confidence in what your capabilities are.
Setting Goals on Your Pathway
When you walk the path of education, it is advisable to have some goals. Goals are the places on your map of learning. They provide a target and keep you in the game.
This can be short-term, i.e. you want to have finished reading a book by the end of the week or long-term such as what job will you do when you are a bigger teacher/scientist.
Related: Having goals gives you something to gauge your progress by and celebrate when you hit them It helps you stay on your path, even when the going gets tough.
Of course, keep in mind that each step you move forward on your education trail is another way of bringing yourself to where the dreaming happens!
The Journey Never Ends
That is the wonderful thing about pathways to education, your journey never ends. Even grown-ups learn new things daily. It does not matter if you learn a new skill at work, pick up a hobby or read something interesting in the news education is an adventure which lasts for your whole life.
You will evolve and your pathways will change new paths of opportunities to learn and grow. What matters is staying open-minded, being inquisitive and never ceasing to look for the unknown across you.
CONCLUSION: Getting Your Success Cell Style
Your pathways to education are the roads that guide you towards knowledge, skills and ultimately your dream life. Now, regardless of whether you are learning in school or at home with your family, online as a distance learner for the first time OR like me at my age from reading books and new experiences every day! All pathways help each person to grow into a world leader.
It is important to remind yourself that everyone has a unique way of their roadmap. What matters is moving ahead, trying out new things and travelling the path.
You can chart your pathway through education and if you remain inquisitive, are willing to make goals for yourself, and take every opportunity to learn that crosses your path it will guide you someplace extraordinary.
