Learning

Learning is a tough subject to talk about because everyone learns different and it’s a very opinionated subject. Growing up, learning as you get older, is always easier as an adolescent in my opinion because our brains are like sponges, soaking in information and being able to retain it. As I get older, I feel it’s harder to retain information I learn and I usually have to read a chapter or go over an assignment more than once just to make sure I can comprehend the subject.

I’ve always been hands on learner. Doing something tends to be the best way for me to learn. Not only is it easier to learn hands on, it’s especially easier to learn when you’re enjoying what you’re doing. The more I seem to do with my hands and make it fun the better I am at retaining the information.

During the course of my high school career, when I graduated in 2003, was always book oriented and not really hands on. I’m sure it might be the same with high schools currently but I feel that if high schools could get more hands on, students would tend to learn more and enjoy doing it. Making what you are learning into everyday life events. Show them more of the why than the how to, because if you understand why you need to know something or what its purpose is, it may be easier to comprehend and have real life experience help you with the subject.

The video (http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/gever_tulley_s_tinkering_school_in_action.html)expressed some important points as far as the overwhelming most children have these days between dance classes, football, basketball, soccer and everything in between. My brother works at a restaurant and is attending high school, his senior year. Between work and football, he doesn’t have much time to do homework let alone time for him to relax and unwind after a busy day. For example he worked Monday night from the moment he was out of football practice which is around 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. that night, and had homework to do so instead of going to bed at a decent time, he was up until midnight 1 a.m. finishing the homework that was due Tuesday. I don’t agree with the work load he has, but he wants his job for his personal expenses, and he enjoys playing football for his school. If the school wants to instill this type of work ethic they should understand and maybe figure out new ways for students to do homework, or maybe trim it down a bit so that they don’t have so much on their plate.

These are just my thoughts and opinions on the video and learning in general, if they are not the same as yours, that’s fine, this is a blog, it’s meant to be opinionated.

LABOR DAY

Labor Day weekend was like most typical weekends for me. Friends, Family, and some good old Paintball. Nothing to exciting happened during Labor Day. I did a lot of guitar practicing, bar notes are harder than they look. You have to move and shape your hand around the guitar in ways you’ve never really had to have your hand positioned before so it takes a lot of practice and repitition to get your hands “muscle memory” to kick in making it easier to hit the notes and jump from chord to chord. I really have enjoyed learning the guitar so far and am excited to continue learning.

My buddy and I, on Sunday, had a jam session. Basically he comes over with his guitar, I sit down with my cajone, and we just jam out to songs he knows. Its pretty easy to keep a basic beat on the cajone considering most of the time its just a two beat rhythm, nothing to fancy but it brings the guitar and the words together a bit more, keeping the pace of the entire song.

Monday we grilled out, brats and burgers, and enjoyed a nice day with my brother and my parents. After we ate my little brother and I hungout, watching “The office” and “Its Always Sunny in Phildelphia” which are two of my favorite shows. It was a nice relaxing Labor Day weekend and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

My introduction

                My name is Tyler Ashmore and I’m a 26 year old student here at WWTC.  I’ve lived a pretty interesting life so far taking me from Wisconsin to Iraq and a few places in between.  I enlisted into the military straight out of high school and signed up for a 3 year contract for active duty.  I was stationed at Fort Benning, GA for those 3 years, but during that time I did a 15 month tour in iraq, my first tour, but it wouldn’t be my last.  I finished my contract with active duty and signed up with the national guard.  I enjoyed the guard because it kept me close to home, but I ended up having to do a second deployment to baghdad. 

During the last year I’ve been to Munich and Berlin in Germany; Krakow in Poland; Prague in the Czech Republic; Kuwait; and Iraq.  I was able to experience several different cultures which I enjoyed doing.  I was also able to attend the official “Oktoberfest” in Munich, which was a great experience.  I plan on returning to europe again to backpack a bit longer than the two weeks I was limited to at the time.

I tend to think of myself as a humerous person.  I enjoy laughing, listning to music, playing music, and am currently learning to play the guitar. I enjoy doing things outside as well as inside, leading to a few more hobbies than i currently need. I play paintball, build computers, play video games, and just kick it with a few buddies.  

I look forward to learning more about yourselves in the blogs to come.