What are some basic elements that are necessary to develop in order to become an educated and informed society? An educated society, and by extension an informed society, is one that possesses the resourcefulness to acquire information necessary to function within the parameters that illuminate and enlighten a respect and appreciation for one’s life and the lives of other inhabitants in a civilized world. This includes accepting the premise that we are a unique, yet very similar population of individuals forming a global community. As citizens of the world, we have become increasingly more dependent upon each other. It is absolutely imperative that each of us make a concerted effort to understand, respect, and appreciate the affairs of varied cultures, religions, local and regional social beliefs and customs. This should also include how we co-exist with other life forms of the natural realm.

 

Learning is actually a combination of innate and formally taught skills that enable a person to acquire information (factual and conceptual) and to develop knowledge (understanding) necessary for leading a productive life as a citizen of the world. Formal classroom education and experiential learning are not mutually exclusive! Learning begins when a person develops a sense of curiosity for the world. This is initiated by one or more of our sensory observations (sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch), and matures through a lifetime of experiences. Questions are spawned, raw data is collected, sorted, organized, analyzed, and when rendered as defensible credible truths by a jury of peers, the information becomes a body of useful written documents and oral records. An analysis results in understanding, which by extension becomes useful knowledge. Knowledge aids in decision support, problem solving, and ultimately an enhanced appreciation for the affairs of the world. These steps from curiosity to crafting questions to a systematic process of inquiry should form the foundation for a lifetime pursuit of knowledge and by extension, an understanding for the affairs of the world. Formal education should reinforce this process through a rich variety of learning experiences, but it is not the sole means for becoming an informed and educated citizenry.