In my Grade 11 Biology class we were given this list of the Animal Kingdom Phylums and were expected to memorize the entire list for a test (writing out the entire list) the following week.
Acanthocephala- Acoelomorpha
- Annelida
- Arthropoda
- Brachiopoda
- Bryozoa
- Chaetognatha
- Chordata
- Cnidaria
- Ctenophora
- Cycliophora
- Echinodermata
- Echiura
- Entoprocta
- Gastrotricha
- Gnathostomulida
- Hemichordata
- Kinorhyncha
- Loricifera
- Micrognathozoa
- Mollusca
- Nematoda
- Nematomorpha
- Nemertea
- Onychophora
- Orthonectida
- Phoronida
- Placozoa
- Platyhelminthes
- Porifera
- Priapula
- Rhombozoa
- Rotifera
- Sipuncula
- Tardigrada
- Xenoturbellida
I told myself it was impossible. I didn’t think a human being could possibly remember all of these weird words and write them out on a test (with correct spelling).
I started studying them, I practiced, I memorized, I practiced more. By the time the test came I aced it and taught myself very important lesson.
What you perceive is impossible is just your mind telling you it is so.
If perception is reality then you just need to change the way you think to change your reality. Keep an open mind, there are no absolutes, the only certainty in our world is that it will change.
Still, when people are stubborn and won’t change their mind, no matter how much evidence you show them, always remember; at one time everyone believed the Earth was flat.
Finally, if you want to see the extent of what children can learn using the internet, watch this video. Sugata Mitra is doing the impossible.
Photo Credit: Red Stapler Chronicles
