The Best Teacher?

[theCryptofishist]

We have a tendency, on this board, to throw questions back at the askers (usually with some snark) and try and get them to find the answer themselves. My interpretation of this "habit" is that we believe that the best way to learn is to learn/figure out something for yourself. Sort of the difference between experience and reading in a textbook, I guess.

But is it true?
How do you learn? What do you retain? What was your greatest lesson (or failing that, one you can think of right now)?

[Ugly Dougly]

Tom Brown Jr. calls this "Coyote Teaching".

[LeChatNoir]

I guess about 90% of what I know and use to make a living has been self taught. By self-taught, I’m referring to outside of an academic or school setting. I’ve had the opportunity several times for someone to teach me a technique in person and it‘s always been a good thing. Good teachers help too. I’ve learned a lot from simply watching or studying a photograph and trying to pick apart the object and reverse engineer it. Seeing something in person makes this easier since tool marks and techniques become more evident, but sometimes things are far away.

I’ve never been afraid to ask questions and have had people take note of that positively in face to face or classroom-type situations. Only online have I asked a question to receive snarky comment from someone who then offered no help. In person I’ve found everyone I’ve asked to be helpful.

I told my high school geometry teacher, “I don’t know why you are trying to teach me all this because I’ll never use it to make livingâ€

[Simon of the Playa]

Rabbi Satanberg, best teacher EVER!

[AntiM]

Ah. I could do this all day and night. Beginning with multiple intelligences and diverse learning strategies .... but yes, direct experience and self-instruction are highly effective.