Education

Education encompasses the teaching of specific skills, and also something less tangible but more profound: the imparting of knowledge, good judgement and wisdom. One of the fundamental goals of education is to impart culture across the generations socialization.

Education begins the minute a baby is born and is life-long. Education may even begin before birth as evidenced by some parents playing music or reading to the baby in the womb in the hope it will influence (educate) their child before birth. For some, the struggles and triumphs of daily life are far more instructive than formal schooling (Thus Mark Twain: "I never let school interfere with my education.")
Family members have an educational effect which is quite profound -- often more profound than they realize -- though family teaching techniques may be highly informal.

Formal education occurs when society makes a commitment to educate people, usually the young. Formal education can be systematic and thorough, but the sponsoring group may seek selfish advantages when shaping impressionable young scholars.

Life-long education has become widespread. Many adults have given up the notion that only children belong in school, and many adults can be seen enrolled at post-secondary education schools, where they are often classified as non-traditional students due to their age.

Computing devices can change when and where we learn. This is the computer based or networked learning structure, in which people contribute to each others' education.

Table of contents

1 Categories
2 Formal education
3 Educational policy
4 Informal education
5 Extracurricular education
6 Theory and methodology
7 Education by country
8 Biographies
9 Quote