I used to think that the learning process is composed of the three procedures: receive, memorize, and repeat. That impression is what the education I received taught me. While Paulo Freire is opposed against this banking concept of education. After reading this week’s material, I began to think back on my previous school years. I see that I was passively receiving the knowledge my teachers gave, until my junior years when I had the chance to do my own research. It was only then when I had my real passion for learning. Before then, I was merely motivated by getting high score in exams which sort of resulted in not questioning the authority – teachers. I do see the downside of banking education, that leads to students lacking creativity, and the ability to transform knowledge. Students are only good at withdrawing the knowledge when asked by the teacher or exammer. They’ve adapted to the education system, rather than truly taken in the knowledge.
I think getting undergraduate students or even high school or younger students exposed to research experience is a good way to avoid the banking style education. Because research is open-ended and simply depositing and withdrawing knowledge will not work. It requires constant questioning and can be challenging and encouraging at the same time.