Learning Recent Report States \"Too

Learning recent report states "Too many of our brightest and most capable students are sometimes caught in a system that places too much emphasis on linguistic, word smart intelligence or mathematical, number smart intelligence" (Diaz-Lefebvre, 2004, ab.). This can be true in both educational settings as well as in the workplace. One situation where this might be true is in the training of security guards. Many times individuals interested in working in the security field are trained, learning the ins and outs of security work in an educational setting when what might work better is to allow them more leeway to learn on the job. Situations might arise during working hours, at the workplace that cannot be addressed in a classroom. One such situation might take place when a disaster occurs on their watch.

A security guard who is faced with events that take quick thinking and actions, may not react in the same way as he or she would in a classroom, especially if they are not being trained in the correct manner. Intelligence in answering questions from a manual is not the exact same as making decisions under pressure that may have dire consequences, even if that individual has been tested extensively. A recent article states, "Media reports are rife with claims that students in the United States are over tested and that they and their education are suffering as result" (Wolf, 2007, pg. 691). This might be especially true for some security firms who believe that extensive testing is the best way of ensuring that their security guards maintain a sense of readiness. However, many individuals do not learn in that manner.

There are three different ways of learning that include; 1). auditory learning - the students need to hear the instructors present the information, 2). Visual learning - the students need to see the information which can be accomplished by writing the information on the board or using a video with a screen, computer projection etc., 3). Kinesthetic - the instructor will need to present the students with events and activities that will require hands-on practice in the classroom. A disaster situation facing a security guard might take on all three; hands on experience coming from making quick decisions, seeing exactly what is happening and reacting to it, and listening to reports from others that help the guard in understanding the situation. One recent study concludes; "Knowledge in this millennium is increasingly characterized by the creative integration of information and learning from diverse disciplines" (Oon-Seng, 2007, pg 101). This could be especially true for security guards, and it is important to keep in mind that constraints on the ways and methods in which these individuals learn might be the very constraints that will hinder them in the performance of their duties.