I grew up watching PBS. It seems like if there isn’t anything good on TV, I can find something good on PBS. So I’ve watched a lot of NOVA, Nature, Secrets of the Dead, Scientific American Frontiers, and many others. I love them. There’s so much to learn out there. And nobody beats PBS for reality television either (Manor House (loved the scullery maid problems), 1900 House, Colonial House …)
I also have wonderful examples of informal learning in my life. Grandpa Nelson never read fiction books, saying there were too many non-fiction books out there for him to read and learn from. He also attended university classes as long as he could, taking classes on a large variety of subjects.
And my Grandpa Giles always reminds us to not “let the book learnin’ interfere with [our] education.”
This year I’m reading at least 26 non-fiction books, one topic for each letter of the alphabet, and in alphabetical order as well. I think it’s as much for the benefit of others around me as it is for myself and spreading my horizons. Now I’m talking about the books I’m reading and not just the educational research I’m studying. It’s given me more to talk about.
So it really shouldn’t surprise anyone when I frequently say in a conversation that “I saw a show on PBS about that.” Although it does surprise me just how often I say it. I’ve seen a lot of things on PBS, on so many different topics, that it really is hard to find something I haven’t seen on PBS. And if I haven’t seen it there, odds are I probably read something about it at one point.
This weekend I attended a baby shower and we played a game where you had to match the name of the baby animal with the name of the adult animal. Someone said they thought I looked like I’d do well at it. Does it really show that I watch that much PBS and read that much? I did do real well on it though. And it’s because I’ve watched a lot of PBS, especially Nature, as well as National Geographic specials and magazines.
I love my program of study. But I’m also so grateful for all these informal opportunities to learn that keep from being too absorbed with my “book learnin'”. And as I look at it, there are two more shows I need to watch on PBS, NOVA – Marathon Challenge and Only a Teacher. I should probably get my presentation for class finished first.
I am an educator and PhD. I quilt, belly dance, run, read, and try to grow things. I am a Mormon. I am infertile. I am a daughter, sister, aunt, grand-daughter, friend, wife, and mom.
Brett L. Dennis
Mama g
Giggles
AmandaStretch
I can TOTALLY relate to what you’re saying. Except that what I’m always saying is “I saw a Simpson’s episode about that.” I’m pretty sure there’s a Simpson’s episode about just about everything. It makes me feel very educated too.
Next time you are aware that a NOVA on the theory of relativity is coming up, please let me know.
I thought you’d say that you could relate because you hear that phrase a lot. 😉
Actually, you can watch that NOVA about string theory and the elegant universe online. NOVA: The Elegant Universe
And people were highly impressed in class today when I told them that you’d figured out my presentation was a meta-flow. Also, my professor thinks I need to stop talking about school so much and maybe talk about other things. You let me know if that’s a problem.