Mrs. Rachel Belzberg
Science and Mathematics Teacher
In previous years of teaching at Bnei Akiva Schools, I ran a lunchtime Trivia Club. On a weekly basis, no less than a dozen students joined me to test their general knowledge, learn something new, and have fun.
I was always pleased to see students excel, particularly those whose general academic trend was may have been full of red x’s and below average grades. I never would have imagined that a struggling student could rattle off the GTA’s 4 airports without difficulty. Nor did I expect to see students correctly identify multiple pasta shapes that begin with the letter F. On the flip side, a handful of students that aced a class quiz on cellular organelles had no answers to offer on material that was never taught to them during school hours (such as the term for deer meat). During those lunchtime sessions, we covered topics such as common acronyms, national flags, slogans, and famous landmarks. Without any connection to curriculum content, I was able to see where students’ interests lay and I could identify students interested in broadening their knowledge base.
The benefits of general knowledge far surpass impressing your science teacher at Trivia Club. Acquiring knowledge on a variety of topics will facilitate interesting conversation, can help in an interview, and also gives off a sense of intelligence. General knowledge will make you stand out from a crowd and help to arrive at educated and informed decisions in life. Knowledge of current affairs, contemporary issues, political or world events, is also advantageous in becoming an informed global citizen.
It is challenging as educators and parents to encourage our youth to develop a thirst for knowledge to which no grade or reward is attached. It is learning for the sake of learning. Reading a book, newspaper, magazine, or even a wikipedia page on a topic will expand one’s knowledge. Conversation with kids and students also allows them to ask questions and critically analyze facts and issues together. Crossword puzzles or trivia apps are enjoyable and challenging ways to increase knowledge.
One can argue that any teenager can answer a fact-based question with a few keystrokes, or simply posing a question to their mobile device. 15 seconds or under I would wager. While this may be the case, there is something to be said for the use of one’s general knowledge and the way in which he / she goes about conversing with others. One never knows when that information will come in handy. Farfalle, fusili, fettucine.
No learning is trivial (pun intended).
