A Honey Of A Deal For Being Interested In Learning
I remember being told that being interested makes us interesting. I believe this applies to being curious as well. Yesterday, I spent time at the Savannah Bee Company learning about honeybees, beekeeping, education, stewardship, and love. It was a reminder of just how curious and interested I get about a great number of subjects. Some have even called me eclectic. Guilty! Being interested in something can make us more interesting When we have a genuine passion for a subject or topic, it shows in our conversations and interactions with others. It can make us more engaging and knowledgeable, and can also spark curiosity and interest in those around you.
Yesterday, working with honeybees, I was reminded why I am such a believer in using real world and relevant contexts for learning. The Bee Cause Project introduces children to the science of bees and giving them a hands-on connection between these magnificent pollinators and their own lives. Founder and CEO, Ted Dennard is committed to the mission of building the buzz for integrating bees into education. By incorporating honeybee-related activities into STEAM (science, technology, engineering, agriculture/arts, and math) education, students not only learn important scientific principles but also develop skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and data analysis. Additionally, they gain an appreciation for the natural world and a sense of responsibility towards sustainable practices.
It was exciting to take a deeper dive into learning about the, ecology, life cycle of bees, their and environmental behavior, and science. I was able to observe the bee’s hive and students in schools who are a part of The Bee Cause Project can also observe their own beehive and the bee’s role in pollination. And, by the way, produce a pretty sweet (honey) product in the process of learning. A relevant context at its best.
And, I can’t leave out the importance of Agriculture: honeybees are essential for pollinating crops, making them crucial to agriculture. By learning about beekeeping, students gain insight into agricultural practices and the importance of sustainable food production.
Being interested in STEAM subjects, for example, can lead to fascinating discussions and opportunities to share ideas and knowledge with others. So, integrating honeybee-related activities into the curriculum, is a great way educators can help students develop an interest in STEAM subjects while also promoting environmental awareness and sustainable practices. So, yes, being interested can definitely make you more interesting.
Context Matters
Having contextual information can help build trust and rapport between individuals, as they feel heard, understood, and validated in their experiences.When we have context, we can accurately assess challenges and opportunities to come up with potential solutions that will better address the underlying nuances and issues at play. Last night while watching a new episode (S6.E16) of S.W.A.T. I was reminded how important digging for context was. Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson (Shemar Moore), a Los Angeles S.W.A.T. lieutenant, reminded his Commander, Robert Hicks (Patrick St. Esprit) that, “I’m just reminding you. You don’t have all the context.” when Hicks was being hard on the son of a former colleague. Once the context was shared between the two, the relationship was shored up.
Then Hondo experienced his own context gathering situation. He had cleaned out his house for the arrival of his new baby girl. His father became very upset and Hondo could not understand why. He then realized he had given away a doll house that his father had built for Hondo’s sister and was planning to remodel for Hondo’s daughter. What Hondo thought was junk meant a lot to his father and he was looking forward to passing the doll house down to his granddaughter. Once Hondo figured it out, it was too late and the doll house couldn’t be found. In the end Hondo and his father decided to build a new one together. Taking the time to establish and consider context is an essential aspect of problem-solving and effective communication. In the absence of context, misunderstandings can arise, and solutions may be less effective or even counterproductive. Context matters!
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