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Experiences are Everything: Importance of experiences in education

Writer's picture: Beyond the BeanstalkBeyond the Beanstalk

Updated: Jan 23

 

I remember my Year 6 teacher very fondly. She was a no nonsense type of person who commanded respect. I have often implemented her methods in my own teaching career. One particular discussion she had with one of my classmates has continued to resonate with me. She had been telling us about some upcoming activity and a student said “That sounds boring”. She regarded the student for a moment and said “It is an experience and the more experiences you have, the more interesting your life is and the more interesting of a person you are”. I don’t remember what the activity was she was telling us about but I certainly remember her response. I  have often used this in similar classroom situations. 


Jennie teaching her Space Club about mapping underwater or hostile terrains.
Jennie with her Space Club, mapping the bottom of a dam with a fish finder 2005.

This teacher made sure that as her class, we did not lack experiences. She took us to see Prince Charles arrive at Central Station, she took us into a rainforest, camping at the beach, to a dairy farm and a dairy coop, and to orchestral concerts at the Opera House. She also made us watch the ballet Spartacus on tv. She provided us with many more experiences, too numerous to list here. Did I enjoy every one of them? No, I did not but I certainly remember them. Some of them sparked my interest and prompted me to seek out further information on my own. I still draw upon some of these experiences in my life now, particularly in my teaching career.


At Beyond the Beanstalk we aim to provide experiences that will remain with children throughout their lives. We hope our engaging, hands-on workshops will plant small seeds, which in time may grow into career paths or long term interests. Our activities are designed to develop self confidence and problem solving skills. Often, when we commence a workshop, children will ask us to do the craft or construction activity for them. We encourage them to try it first, or attempt it in a different way. In nearly all cases, even if several attempts are required, the child will succeed in completing our age appropriate activity. The pleasure they derive from this is very uplifting to both the children and our Beyond the Beanstalk staff members. The importance of experiences in education lay at the. heart of Beyond the Beanstalk's philosophy.


Activities from Grandpa's Bubbling Sandpit, Grandpa's Museum, Grandpa's Picture Show
Activities from Beyond the Beanstalk's Grandpa's Adventure series.

Providing experiences not normally available to children is part of our mission. We hope to encourage them to look at something new and unusual and ask the question “How does that work?” One example is our Grandpa’s Bubbling Sandpit workshop, in which students examine Bernoulli’s Principle and use a small fluidised bed. Both of these involve scientific concepts usually reserved for much older students. Yet we find even very young children can gain a practical understanding of both of these concepts. While using the fluidised bed, they learn that when it is switched on, the heavy things sink and the light things pop up out of the sand. They also hear a story about how Grandpa uses this to hide and later retrieve his treasures. The beauty of this is that we do not know how and when this experience may influence the children in later life. It may remain as a happy memory of an interesting incursion, or it may spark a curiosity that could lead to a career in engineering. The point is that the children have this experience. It is up to them to determine where it may take them. I would love to be able to tell my Year 6 teacher how important her words were in that classroom so long ago.

 
Jennie from Beyond the Beanstalk
Jennie Young

Jennie is a highly accomplished educator with over 30 years of experience as a science teacher. Renowned for her innovative teaching methods, she has received national and international recognition, including the prestigious Churchill Fellowship and the Caltex Rotary Award for Innovation in Teaching.

With a Master of Science in Astronomy, Jennie has travelled extensively across the United States and Europe to study best practices in the teaching of science, engineering, and mathematics. Her passion lies in inspiring curiosity and equipping both students and educators to explore the wonders of STEM.


Jennie is the author of The STEAM Book, a guide filled with engaging STEM activities for late primary and early high school students, along with its accompanying teacher resource. She is also the creative mind behind the beloved Growley series, captivating readers with stories that spark imagination and a love for learning.

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