Kashius Ford
Open Heart: A Reflection On Experiential Education And The Awe It Inspires
Of all the projects we have done in 11th grade, the heart dissection we did in biology sticks out to me as the most memorable. This project was part of our human physiology unit, in which we spent quite some time learning about the cardiovascular system. We spent most of that time memorizing names and functions of valves and chambers but to end the unit, our biology teacher, Emily Durkin, mixed-up things by having us dissect pig’s hearts.
Not everyone was as enthusiastic about this project as I was, and at least one student chose to graciously step out of the classroom. I understand this reaction. Dead things can be very disconcerting. After all, you are cutting into an organ that was, in the not so distant past, working to keep an organism alive. An organ, after all, which exists in your own body as well. Such sights may prompt reflection on one's own mortality and place in the universe.
Despite all of this, I really enjoyed this lab. On a practical level, there is no better way to learn about the heart. There is something about opening up an organ and exploring its structure that has the capability to teach far more than any textbook or lecture ever could. Through dissection, an understanding of the heart’s structures and functions is reached, wich transcends what could be learned from diagrams alone.
On a deeper level, however, the experience of cutting into an organ and exploring its intricacies is truly mind-opening. Seeing the insane and incomprehensible complexity present in one of life’s most essential organs inspires awe for the universe and appreciation of your place in it.
It is this experience of visceral understanding of the world that compels me most about education. An experience which fuels the search for awe at the core of my worldview. This is why I think experiential learning is so important. It is the reason why I spend a week each year camping in the desert, learning the skills that our ancient ancestors used daily to survive, and it's the reason I go to the Mountain School.
I think that experiential learning is more important now than ever before. We live in a time when it is easier to stay in your comfort zone than to step out of it. A time when one of the primary methods of interacting with the world is through a pane of glass. That's why I encourage you all to step out of your comfort zone and learn something new, something real. And, I promise you, your heart and mind will be better for it.
