It is usually assumed that we need to know before we do. However, there are many occasions when we learn by taking action.
The amazing books on scientific knowledge are the result of experimentation, and the knowledge is codified afterwards. Great explorers, like Captain Cook, took action. They sailed the oceans in order to provide the knowledge of places and people.
People who started businesses, like HJ Heinz and Henry Ford, had some basic knowledge, but learned how to develop their business by taking action.
Today, the danger is that we condition students into a passive way of learning though books and computer search systems. Passive learning is necessary, but not sufficient.
Applied learning is more important. Therefore, let us develop a passive/active learning ratio. For example, how many hours of active learning should there be for every hour of passive learning. Should it be a ratio of 1 to 1, or 3 to 1 or 10 to 1?
I play the piano, and have performed in restaurants, cafes, on cruise ships and entertained in various other places. To start, I needed knowledge but my ability and confidence improved through action and applications. My estimate is that a ratio of 25 active hours to 1 passive hour has helped me.
In our current work, we are encouraging students to develop the applied learning, rather than just pass exams based on passive learning. In particular, we are asking students ‘what have you learned about yourself as a result of taking action?’ That is the most important learning they can gain, as it will enhance their ability to improve.