Question
“Some experts maintain that students learn best in a highly structured environment, one that emphasizes discipline, punctuality, and routine. Others insist that educators, if they are to help students maximize their potential, ought to maintain an atmosphere of relative freedom and spontaneity.”
Explain your position on the issue of structure versus freedom in an ideal learning environment. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
"How to educate students?" is a very difficult question. Above statement puts forward two strategies which are completely opposite. I would like to support the later strategy - maintaining an atmosphere of relative freedom and spontaneity. Reasons supporting my views are as follows.
First of all, while teaching one might be able to create an atmosphere which is highly structured, disciplined and punctual. But in real life and work environment most of the things are unstructured. In real life one cannot assume anything and sometimes one cannot even afford to make mistakes. One needs to apply brain and innovative thinking to solve the issues. In fact if someone is brought up in very structured and disciplined environment then chances are that he might struggle in actual life. Complexities of actual life and "human" factor can confuse him completely. To support mentioned claims I would like to provide example of Dr. Abdul Kalam, the top notch Indian scientist and the previous President of India. In his autobiography Dr. Kalam has mentioned about his earlier work life. He has mentioned that after the structured engineering education he found it very difficult to solve complex and practical work problems.
Secondly, I would also like to put forward examples of great scientists Albert Einstein and Sir Newton. Albert Einstein was notorious in his school as he used to ask lot of questions. In fact he struggled in school because his school didn't welcome his questions and thirst of knowledge.
We also know about the Sir Newton and famous apple incident. As Sir Newton was able to ask questions to himself, he found the Gravity. Had he suppressed the questions he wouldn't have found the gravity. Similar to this example, we need to allow students to ask their questions to themselves as well as to teachers. Through the process of questioning, thinking and discussing with friends and teachers, students will be able to grasp in the most efficient manner. Moreover students will enjoy this kind of environment as they have the freedom.
Therefore, I think that we should built an atmosphere of relative freedom and spontaneity. It will make our education system much better and students will also find it interesting to study in it.
“Some experts maintain that students learn best in a highly structured environment, one that emphasizes discipline, punctuality, and routine. Others insist that educators, if they are to help students maximize their potential, ought to maintain an atmosphere of relative freedom and spontaneity.”
Explain your position on the issue of structure versus freedom in an ideal learning environment. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
"How to educate students?" is a very difficult question. Above statement puts forward two strategies which are completely opposite. I would like to support the later strategy - maintaining an atmosphere of relative freedom and spontaneity. Reasons supporting my views are as follows.
First of all, while teaching one might be able to create an atmosphere which is highly structured, disciplined and punctual. But in real life and work environment most of the things are unstructured. In real life one cannot assume anything and sometimes one cannot even afford to make mistakes. One needs to apply brain and innovative thinking to solve the issues. In fact if someone is brought up in very structured and disciplined environment then chances are that he might struggle in actual life. Complexities of actual life and "human" factor can confuse him completely. To support mentioned claims I would like to provide example of Dr. Abdul Kalam, the top notch Indian scientist and the previous President of India. In his autobiography Dr. Kalam has mentioned about his earlier work life. He has mentioned that after the structured engineering education he found it very difficult to solve complex and practical work problems.
Secondly, I would also like to put forward examples of great scientists Albert Einstein and Sir Newton. Albert Einstein was notorious in his school as he used to ask lot of questions. In fact he struggled in school because his school didn't welcome his questions and thirst of knowledge.
We also know about the Sir Newton and famous apple incident. As Sir Newton was able to ask questions to himself, he found the Gravity. Had he suppressed the questions he wouldn't have found the gravity. Similar to this example, we need to allow students to ask their questions to themselves as well as to teachers. Through the process of questioning, thinking and discussing with friends and teachers, students will be able to grasp in the most efficient manner. Moreover students will enjoy this kind of environment as they have the freedom.
Therefore, I think that we should built an atmosphere of relative freedom and spontaneity. It will make our education system much better and students will also find it interesting to study in it.
