Education is a life long endeavor that begins with an infants’ realization that he/she has control over his/her bodily movements and is evident in the ability of adults to solve problems throughout his/her life. The key to this education is exposure to new information, stimulus, and experiences. The infant’s environment changes as the child learns, and thus creates new learning opportunities. It is from sights, sounds, and other sensations that they learn to grasp, hold, and move their body. This self-teaching continues throughout most of the life of the individual. Many other lessons are those that are facilitated by an educator. The professional educator, using all the tools available, is an important factor in promoting learning as well. Learning is therefore a natural event that can be promoted, structured, and enhanced, by the educator and technology, but it is the student who must do the learning. Gender has no effect on one’s ability learn. All individuals can learn anything given the proper tools, assistance and time.

The ability to learn is an innate ability that all humans share, but all do not learn equally. The cognitive ability of individuals varies as does the method in which they best learn. Sight is the primary sensory receptor for most, while others may favor or be forced to use the other senses of hearing, smell, or touch.

In addition to these differences there is also the dissimilar ranking of intelligences between individuals. According to Dr. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences we all share the same aptitudes, but we do not share them equally. Some individuals may have a dominant linguistic ability and may find learning new information through reading a pleasurable way to ingest new information. Another individual may better process new material in a bodily-kinesthetic manner. This does not mean that the first individual can not learn thorough physical interaction, nor does it mean that the second person can not learn from reading a passage. Their preferred method of learning may be different, but each of these students can learn using any combination on Gardner’s theoretical intelligences. It is the minimal responsibility of the educator to ensure that every student is exposed to a variety of different stimuli. Ideally, the educator will focus on the sensory receptor and intelligence type that will best aid the student in learning. In addition it is important that these strengths be clarified for the student to allow them to improve self-directed learning strategies. We must allow the student to learn how to learn.

Braille, is only one example which represents a method of transferring information to those without sight. It also demonstrates the ability of the human to adapt the learning style and method. Braille transforms the previously visual learner and provides data that the sense of touch, now the primary receptor of stimulus, can take in and process into new knowledge. This stimulus is then transformed into new knowledge. It is this ability to adapt that reinforces my belief that we can all learn anything if given the time and guidance to do so. Further this ability to learn can be accelerated with the use of technology.

Computer technology allows us to provide multiple and precise materials to our students. It also increases the availability of sources to the self-directed learner. Whatever the learning style, dominant intelligence, or medium of transferal all students can learn. Technology and an instructor who is aware of the advantages of using these methods will reduce the time required for learning, increase student motivation to learn, and ultimately increase the learning that takes place.