Self-Education

Does having an instructor mean it isn't "self-education"? I graduated in 1995, and had no musical background, but last year (at 40), I began studying classical guitar. I can't say it directly impacts my work (I'm an attorney), but it gives me a lot of satisfaction and joy.

Anyway, I think it's a reasonable -- and laudable -- goal.

Wait! I was 39 last year, not 40. Dammit.

I need to re-learn math as well. But like, nowhere near anything as impressive as calculus. Just like, geometry would make me happy.

I have two kids. Self-educ is out of the question (at the moment). I did manage to learn some Japanes (partially self-study but also did a course in uni as a "free student"). I did some self-study for the job I have now but I did also do a diamond grader's course.

I'd love to brush up on German and French. I have forgotten most of those languages. Sad. :-(

Being a self-taught mathematician seems just about impossible. I'm sure there were crazy old renaissance dudes who did it, but really knowing high level math is (at least from my very limited experience) is waaay different than being "good at math" up to and including calculus.

There's something thrilling about the idea of busting out of nowhere with some thesis in 2020, with absolutely no educational qualification in the field. Like, "so THAT'S what he was studying in the coffeeshop for the past 12 years!"

If your kids are very young, it can be hard. When they're a little older, you'll find time. My (then-5 year old) daughter started taking piano lessons, and that gave me an opportunity to begin guitar (my taking lessons helps reinforce her interest in it; we both just had our first recital (my last) last week!).

(xp)

But then, if you really only care about it for a policy degree, I'm pretty sure high level math is completely unnecessary.

No no, it has nothing to do with a policy degree. In fact, I'd really like to one day be an astronomer, or at least a highly competent amateur astronomer.

(PS, I have still not progressed far beyond the "I want to be a fireman...or a cowboy!" stage of development)

morris klein's mathematics for nonmathematicians is a handy reference. i think it takes a big pulsating movie of the week child prodigy brain to competently teach oneself topology or abstract algebra or multivariable analysis or whatever but the everyday calculus stuff should be doable.

Oh, thanks for that recommendation. The amazon description sounds like it will do nicely. I'm going to swing by the library on my way home and see if they have a copy of it. Then I'm going to try to work my way through the beginning of it, and start a math thread that no one will ever post to.

Damn, the library doesn't have it, at least according to their online search function. Thanks a lot, Boulder Public Library, now I'll never be a successful amateur astronomer.

Adam, what do you think about this list?

http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Yourself-Undergraduate-Just-Textbooks/lm/1OQEUJM02SUEB

If the library doesn't have it, they can probably get it for you via interlibrary loan. Also, don't forget that it's also possible to audit classes. Reading books written for a more general audience, like Fermat's Enigma, are also good to get your brain in gear for more in-depth and technical stuff.

(PS, I have still not progressed far beyond the "I want to be a fireman...or a cowboy!" stage of development)

-- Z S, Saturday, 7 June 2008 20:51 (2 hours ago) Link

Hahaha I know! I want to see how long I can get away with it before someone says "Oh, this just won't do. Go file data in that office over there and stop with your crazy ideas."

Learning languages and math on your own are especially difficult because they're things that require practice and feedback to make sure you are actually doing them right and don't just mistakenly think you are. I admire your resolve, good luck! Jaq's suggestion about auditing classes is good for when you move into the new material.

The obvious, fatal flaw in my stupid plan is that I still have another year of grad school to finish up. I may be able to make it for this summer, but when schoolwork starts in earnest in the fall (and my thesis, gawwwd no), dreamz of being a secret math master will be the first to go.

In college I was more self-taught than not. I was interested in writing and attended a college that encouraged self-paced, self-directed learning, so that's what I did.

Years ago, but a decade after college, back when PCs and the world were young, I taught myself how to program (BASIC, C and 8086 assembly language). This (and some community college courses) led to a job as a technical writer through the 1990s. That was my big foray into self-education as a paying proposition.

Since leaving college I have continued to read extensively in whatever subject matter has interested me. I've dabbled, but at a fairly high level for a dabbler. At age 53 I don't really care if this is seen as self-education or as self-indulgence; it keeps me interested in life. I can't imagine descending into just watching tv to kill time.