Learning as a Way of Being: Strategies for Survival in a World of Permanent White Water

Peter Vaill's (1996) book, Learning as a Way of Being: Strategies for Survival in a World of Permanent White Water, elaborated on an alternative to the current trend on education and offered a more futuristic model. His book discussed the downfalls to the common methods of instruction and explored a more modern approach. Vaill contended that the "learning as a way of being" method was more aligned with the unstable times. He envisioned success contingent on continual and creative, purposeful learning. In an age of accountability and mandates on education, the utopian method that Vaill described is not always an option. Still, teachers should allow for the "Qualities of Learning as a Way of Being" when possible to compliment instruction. His style of experiential learning would capitalize on student curiosity and allow for moments of creative exploration.

We used this book in a life-long learning class which was part of our MAed program. The whole class (8) was struck with the first half. He's tough on conventional learning, but leads us back to the childhood interest in learning which is not self-conscious, but just grows out of being a child. A book that is thought-provoking and provides a framework for change.

The author presented a very well developed imagination about what types of world and society is coming to us and what tasks we should prepare for. The seven traits of LWB(learning as a way of being) were excellently contrasted with the present paradigms of education which we must overcome. I wish the author or else could go further into the possible and more concrete pictcures of educational system in comparison with the present public and state educational system, represented by the schools.