How I Learn and Why I Am Responsible For My Educational Experience

Part I: How I learn:

Tactile/kinesthetic learning style
Music association
Problem solving
Teaching others
Positive reinforcement
Analytical- Patterns, formulas, and sequential order

I have a hard time retaining information that is just presented aurally. I use to be a visual learner, but as I have gotten older, this is not as effective. I don't know why this is turing out to be this way.

I find I learn best by teaching others and having interaction where I can work out a problem. I have an associates degree that I earned exclusively online; it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I don't feel qualified to do anything that my degree represents. For the most part, I thrive in a traditional college setting.
By teaching others, I have to know the information and understand it enough to translate it to someone else. I am also held accountable for that information.

Time Article: The Protege Effect


Part II: How to change/ challenge the learning system:

It starts with me. It is important to know what learning scenarios facilitate the best outcome for me, so I need to tailor my education and how I approach school to fit my style. Talking about different styles with instructors and other students opens up the dialogue that education doesn't have to be a one-size fits all experience.
To set myself up for success, I need the interaction with other students and instructors. I retain ideas and give myself an opportunity to form new ones with class and instructor discussions. I need take time out to let my brain process what is going on, and to let the problem-solving gears turn.
Next, talking with other people in my life about how they learn best. Do they even know how their learning styles are? I would explain that it doesn't even have to be related to school, but how learning styles impact how one functions at one's job. My favorite boss was the one who on my first day asked how I learn best.

My questions for the future generations of learners and how we can help them:
Authors William Strauss and Neil Howe are credited with defining the Millennial Generation as those born between 1982-2004. In my household, my boyfriend is still a part of Gen X. My birth year is at the beginning of the designation of the millennial generation, and my brother, born in 1998, is at the end.
All three of us had a different education experience. I barely remember computers in school, and when we did used them, it was a big deal. My brother, on the other hand, has taken several digital design classes and was comfortable working with the software his sophomore year.  I don't even think my boyfriend really worked with computers until the end high school.

I never thought to question how things were being taught. I just know there were certain subjects I never felt successful in, regardless of how helpful my teacher was. It wasn't until my second round in college at UNLV that I really figured out how I learn best and what I can do about it.
This contrast with my brother, who is very aware that there are different options for learning out there. It could be a personality thing as well, but he is not afraid to question teaching methods and to find ways to focus in on what he feels is important and where he really excels. Sadly, the system is not set up for this and he either has A's or F's.

 Should we be able to create our own lesson plan? How would we know what we are good at and where our interests really lie at a younger age? I think we should all have a basic understanding of math, science, language, etc. How could this be applied to one's education for optimal understanding, even though the student might be pursing in depth another subject with different learning styles?
I am also a firm believer in teaching kids life skills and how to function in our world.