As a global community, we are becoming more and more aware of the alternate ways of teaching and learning. We can not afford to be ethnocentric in our views of education. We have the opportunity now to observe and with the gift of technology and travel, we can adapt to better ways of teaching and learning. We can integrate non-western traditions of teaching that embody a lifestyle rather than separation of student to create their own independent work. Creating independent work is highly valued in our school systems, but community and group projects are essential for change to occur.
A non-Western learning style is the Confucian way which is to imitate someone that you admire if you do not know how to act in a certain situation. We would call that "modeling" in the Western learning environment. The difference with Confucian learning is that learning takes place as a daily experience. Rather than teaching from a textbook. Confucians live the experience everyday so then it becomes embodied. All daily experience in Confucianism are an opportunity to learn. This is more of a value in learning as opposed to Western classroom learning or scholarly learning. This way of learning makes a person "fully human."
Another unique example of non-Western way is the Maori traditions of learning. The learning takes place as a life long commitment. The culture support this in many ways, such as "adult learning circles." They cherish their language and is is decreed as a possession in government policy. There is also a government decree to offer equality in education. Extended family serve as a fundamental "unit for learning."
It is wonderful that we are considering non-Western learning experiences as valuable to our culture. This can facilitate more efficient learning and a greater worldview which in the opposite of ethnocentricity. Opening our eyes, opens our hearts a more evolved world community.
