Good Will Hunting is a classic movie for many reasons, but one thought-provoking aspect of it is Will's self-taught education. In one scene with a Harvard student, Will mocks the cost of the student's formal education when all the same knowledge could be accessed with a public library card. Will's character is an anomaly, to say the least, but his idea does deserve some consideration. With the information available online and in print, why do we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on schooling throughout a lifetime?
The answer has many levels to it, but one of those revolves around simple motivation. Learning is hard work, and the vast majority of us lack the self-discipline to stick with difficult concepts until our brain can comprehend it. Formal education provides the structure to hold us accountable and also the support to help us weather the rough patches.
Tutoring fills that same purpose. The more personalized assistance it engenders leads to more efficient understanding than in a classroom setting and also serves as a kind of social pressure. If I am going to let someone else view my understanding and lack thereof when it comes to certain material, I'm going to do my best to show as little ignorance as possible. My goal will be to understand as much as I can on my own, so my tutor will see me as intelligent while also helping me in comprehending more challenging material.
Ultimately, the goal of tutoring should be to achieve independence from that tutoring. As a tutor, I want my students to believe in their ability to understand material and to pick up the skills to do so. Still, sometimes it helps knowing that tutor is waiting to see how much work I've put into it myself.
The answer has many levels to it, but one of those revolves around simple motivation. Learning is hard work, and the vast majority of us lack the self-discipline to stick with difficult concepts until our brain can comprehend it. Formal education provides the structure to hold us accountable and also the support to help us weather the rough patches.
Tutoring fills that same purpose. The more personalized assistance it engenders leads to more efficient understanding than in a classroom setting and also serves as a kind of social pressure. If I am going to let someone else view my understanding and lack thereof when it comes to certain material, I'm going to do my best to show as little ignorance as possible. My goal will be to understand as much as I can on my own, so my tutor will see me as intelligent while also helping me in comprehending more challenging material.
Ultimately, the goal of tutoring should be to achieve independence from that tutoring. As a tutor, I want my students to believe in their ability to understand material and to pick up the skills to do so. Still, sometimes it helps knowing that tutor is waiting to see how much work I've put into it myself.