Education is is future-oriented - it is about development and growth even when we are studying the past. Thus, as educators, the aspect of thinking we tend to focus upon is learning. As we have stressed, much thinking is commonplace - it goes on all the time, often without our being aware of it. Education takes us into the conscious world. It involves activities that are intended to stimulate thinking, to foster learning. We set out to help another person to learn, or to learn something ourselves (a process of self-education). Both can take place at the same time. We learn as we teach. In conversation we learn about people and communities and also learn the craft of informal education.
Three things mark out education: the intention to foster learning; a concern with environment; and certain values
Intention. We may have a script and a syllabus - we know there are certain things about which we need to talk and things we wish to teach. However, a lot of the time we may not have such a clear idea of where things are headed. All we have is a picture of the general direction that we want to go in. However, we set out to foster learning - and this intention is a key characteristic of education.
Environment.. The physical environment - the shape of the room, the way chairs are laid out, lighting and heating will influence the way we feel and think about the activities we are engaged in. In turn, our social relationships will affect the way we view these things.
Commitment. Educators do not act in a value free way. In our view, for something to be called 'education', whether it takes place in the classroom or the canteen, it must be informed by certain values. There is a dividing line between education and indoctrination. Education, unlike the latter, embraces a commitment to: * Respect for persons. * The promotion of well-being. * Truth. *