Evocative Education

The spiritual writer Thomas Moore in one of his musings in Meditations considers study as a spiritual practice. He differentiates being educated from being informed or trained. He defines education as “a drawing out of one’s genius, nature, and heart. The manifestation of one’s essence, the unfolding of one’s capacities, the revelation of one’s heretofore hidden possibilities….”

I observe that education is typically thought of as a process of “putting in” rather than of “drawing out.” Students are to be filled with knowledge and skills that they do not yet possess. What Moore suggests is that education is to evoke the hidden wisdom and talents that may lie dormant within the learner.

How might we make education evocative? A key tool is questions. Rather than teach by telling, ask questions to help students discover what they already know about a subject. Help students connect the subject under study to their own experiences. Students know more than they realize. They simply need help making the connections between what is being learned and what they already know.

Students are also drawn out by the teacher’s enthusiasm for the subject. The teacher’s energy sparks the interest of the students. The instructor’s excitement for learning stirs the motivation of students to learn. The teacher also needs to be open to learning from students. This bolsters the self-confidence of students and helps them to realize that they have something worth contributing to the learning process.

The teacher’s attitude toward students is the defining factor. What you see is what you get. Are students seen as ignorant brains to be enlightened or as whole persons to be encouraged? Is the learner considered a passive recipient or an active participant in the learning process?

Moore points to education as being more than the acquisition of diplomas, degrees, and certifications. He perceives it as a soulful practice. The stirring of spirit and soul is the true value of an evocative education.