Knowledge from Experience

張貼日期：Jul 04, 2014 1:32:16 PM

Coco Yang

Although some people think that knowledge learned from direct experience is less plentiful than what can be gained from books, personally, I think that knowledge gained from experiences has a greater impact than from books on broadening and enriching our life. There are three good effects that prove my position.

First of all, knowledge learned by reading can help cultivate our basic knowledge, while knowledge learned by doing can help us gain more facets about the basic perspective and find out more information about the unknown part of the world. For instance, people who do research may read a lot of books and relevant research in order to comprehend the subject. However, these materials that researchers read are not just reference only. In fact, new discoveries are made because of direct researchable experience. Only through direct researchable experience can researchers discover other unknown information or find solutions to problems. Therefore, direct experience gained from knowledge provides a way to widen our eyes and open our mind.

In addition, knowledge gained from experience tends to be more practical and useful. People will better understand what they learned from books by experiencing and using it. For example, every time I buy a new tech garget, such as iPod touch, I would prefer to look at the handful tool guide first before I start to use it. Moreover, due to this experience I can also be good at playing with my iPhone because iPhone and iPod have some similar functions. In fact, people just have to experience once and will be able to handle other similar products too.

Finally, I think the greatest effect of knowledge gained from experience whether it is a failing experience or a successful one is that one can be stronger. J.K. Rowling once talked about the benefit of the experience of failure at a Harvard Commencement in 2008. She said, “The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift, for all that it is painfully won, and it has been worth more than any qualification I ever earned.” Failure experience taught me things about myself that I could learn no other ways. I discovered that I had a strong will, and more discipline than I have suspected. For example, I have failed on my GMAT exams five times but I still did not give up because I learned from the setback from the exam that I took each time. In fact, it is worth of those failures because GMAT test is difficult and complicated and the humility to know that will enable me to survive its vicissitudes.

In conclusion, the three good effects are not obvious in our daily life. Indeed, knowledge in books is copious, but knowledge gained from experience has given me a broader and deeper understanding of things. Such learning experience usually cannot be gained through reading. Also, the knowledge gained from direct experience is more useful and practicable. Thus, I would say that learning by doing is more beneficial for us.