"The feminist theorists had a great point when they noted that we’re all embodied, and flawed, and, in some sense, blinkered. The lesson I drew from that was a need for humility in the face of complicated, messy realities. But the humility isn’t in the service of fatalism or a flight to innocence and virtue. It’s in the service of making changes that aren’t doomed from the outset," writes Dean Dad on The Confessions of a Community College Dean blog.
For those with a background or interest in philosophy now hunkered down in the trenches of day to day reality as a higher ed professional, this is great stuff! It is insightful, relevant - and here I am speaking specifically to the armchair philosophers out there - fun to apply the theories and concepts of particular philosophies to the tasks and issues facing our contingent realities (that was a bit of a rhetorical flourish, I will admit).
"I was reminded of that this week in a discussion about a proposed program. When I raised a series of questions about the practicality of it, I was hit with the concept/implementation distinction. And I realized that from the perspective of someone responsible for budgeting and staffing, the distinction is false. A concept that can’t be implemented is a flawed concept," Dean Dad muses.
Who doesn't love to "spend time in the weeds of postmodernism"?!?
If the excerpts above at all capture your intrigue, I suggest you read the whole post, where Dean Dad uses basic concepts of feminist theory, postmodernism, and pragmatism to frame his view of best practices when managing the relationship (dare I say dialect?) between a strong conception and its realistic implementation (definitely a thesis-antithesis-synthesis thing!).
Anyways...Dean Dad's blog post brings to mind parallels with another book I am currently reading:Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. In this tome of contemporary psychology by one of its current stars, Kahneman talks a lot about heuristics. In short, a heuristic is a mental shortcut our mind takes - often automatically - to make quick and short work of the deluge of information constantly being hurled at it. For the most part, the use of heuristics is an effective and amazing ability of the mind. allowing us to adapt and thrive without getting mired in information overload, just as pragmatism prevents a postmodernist from getting "lost and paralyzed in an infinite regression of what’s already implicated in what" (Dean Dad).
The challenge, however, is that heuristics - as a necessity - tend to (over)simplify situations and can produce inaccurate judgments as a result. And thus we have biases.
This is an important consideration to make when we are involved in the fast-paced world of making administrative judgments, balancing conception with implementation and the like. Postmodernism, as well as the psychology of biases, reminds us that our judgments and intuitions are anything but clean cut objective assessments of the world. Whether or not we care to admit it, our thoughts are mired in conditions of emergence and heuristics. As Dean Dad states, this does not mean that we need to be fatalistic and throw our hands up. But it does mean that when making decisions, we should be mindful of the perspective and bias integral to our judgment. In this situation, a bit of humility mixed with time out for critical reflection and gathering the views of others can at least move us in the direction of a rational assessment befitting an effective action-outcome response to the contingencies that we face.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Learning Methods: Diversify and Conquer!
Read your textbook. Listen to a lecture. Memorize notes. Take test. Forget material. Repeat.
The traditional modes of teaching encourage a small number of learning methods, primarily reading, listening, and committing facts to short term memory. However, based on scientific studies of the human brain and behavior, many faculty and advisors now incorporate a larger variety of learning methods when teaching - for example, group discussion and projects, a mix of reflection activities, ongoing feedback, and a wide variety of experiental opportunities to apply learning.
There are a number of reasons why diversifying learning methods helps students conquer coursework (and, most importantly, understand it). First, we are capable of learning in different ways, so taking advantage of this fact not only provides multiples perspectives on a topic but also keeps things more dynamic and interesting. Second, due to the interplay between nature and nurture, each individual possesses a unique blend of strengths, and learning methods are most effective when emerging from these particular capacities.
So how do you diversify your learning methods? Whether or not your teachers incorporate diverse learning methods, you can employ a variety of methods in your studying and activities. There are a number of theories on learning methods, but let's take a look at Howard Gardner's concept of multiple intelligences to get some ideas for diversifying learning methods.
According to Gardner, linguistic intelligence involves sensitivity to spoken and written language, the ability to learn languages, and the capacity to use language to accomplish certain goals. Most traditional learning methods involve linguistic intelligence: reading, writing, building vocabulary, practicing grammar, and speaking.
Logical-mathematical intelligence involves the capacity to analyze problems logically, carry out mathematical operations, and investigate issues scientifically. Learning methods include concept diagrams, solving puzzles, critical thinking and analysis, use of numbers and statistics, and experimentation.
Musical intelligence entails skills in the performance, composition, and appreciation of musical patterns. Learning methods include using sound as a part of memorization, crafting lyrics or music to make meaning, and using musical forms and concepts as metaphors.
Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence entails the potential of using one’s whole body or parts of the body (like the hand or the mouth) to solve problems or fashion products. Learning methods include moving while studying, using hands-on approaches (literally) to problem solving, and using tactile senses (touch) as a part of memorization and metaphors.
Spatial intelligence features the potential to recognize and manipulate the patterns of wide space as well as the patterns of more confined areas. Learning methods include using photographs to make meaning, drawing out visual representations of concepts, and employing film and movies in the learning process.
Interpersonal intelligence denotes a person’s capacity to understand the intentions, motivations, and desires of other people and, consequently, to work effectively with others. Learning methods include participating in study groups, completing collaborative projects, and learning through group discussions and the viewpoints of others.
Intrapersonal intelligence involves the capacity to understand oneself, to have an effective working model of oneself and to use such information effectively manage and understand one's own life. Learning methods include using various reflection activities (such as journaling, uninterrupted quiet time), completing projects independently, and using theories from philosophy and psychology to make sense of things.
These are but a few examples of diverse learning methods, using multiple intelligences as a framework. The trick is to strike a balance between 1) focusing on learning methods that draw on your natural strengths and 2) diversifying your learning methods across the spectrum of intelligences. We are most effective when operating within our strengths, but a diversity of methods adds a dynamism and multi-perspective view that also enhances learning.
So go and conquer!
The traditional modes of teaching encourage a small number of learning methods, primarily reading, listening, and committing facts to short term memory. However, based on scientific studies of the human brain and behavior, many faculty and advisors now incorporate a larger variety of learning methods when teaching - for example, group discussion and projects, a mix of reflection activities, ongoing feedback, and a wide variety of experiental opportunities to apply learning.
There are a number of reasons why diversifying learning methods helps students conquer coursework (and, most importantly, understand it). First, we are capable of learning in different ways, so taking advantage of this fact not only provides multiples perspectives on a topic but also keeps things more dynamic and interesting. Second, due to the interplay between nature and nurture, each individual possesses a unique blend of strengths, and learning methods are most effective when emerging from these particular capacities.
So how do you diversify your learning methods? Whether or not your teachers incorporate diverse learning methods, you can employ a variety of methods in your studying and activities. There are a number of theories on learning methods, but let's take a look at Howard Gardner's concept of multiple intelligences to get some ideas for diversifying learning methods.
According to Gardner, linguistic intelligence involves sensitivity to spoken and written language, the ability to learn languages, and the capacity to use language to accomplish certain goals. Most traditional learning methods involve linguistic intelligence: reading, writing, building vocabulary, practicing grammar, and speaking.
Logical-mathematical intelligence involves the capacity to analyze problems logically, carry out mathematical operations, and investigate issues scientifically. Learning methods include concept diagrams, solving puzzles, critical thinking and analysis, use of numbers and statistics, and experimentation.
Musical intelligence entails skills in the performance, composition, and appreciation of musical patterns. Learning methods include using sound as a part of memorization, crafting lyrics or music to make meaning, and using musical forms and concepts as metaphors.
Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence entails the potential of using one’s whole body or parts of the body (like the hand or the mouth) to solve problems or fashion products. Learning methods include moving while studying, using hands-on approaches (literally) to problem solving, and using tactile senses (touch) as a part of memorization and metaphors.
Spatial intelligence features the potential to recognize and manipulate the patterns of wide space as well as the patterns of more confined areas. Learning methods include using photographs to make meaning, drawing out visual representations of concepts, and employing film and movies in the learning process.
Interpersonal intelligence denotes a person’s capacity to understand the intentions, motivations, and desires of other people and, consequently, to work effectively with others. Learning methods include participating in study groups, completing collaborative projects, and learning through group discussions and the viewpoints of others.
Intrapersonal intelligence involves the capacity to understand oneself, to have an effective working model of oneself and to use such information effectively manage and understand one's own life. Learning methods include using various reflection activities (such as journaling, uninterrupted quiet time), completing projects independently, and using theories from philosophy and psychology to make sense of things.
These are but a few examples of diverse learning methods, using multiple intelligences as a framework. The trick is to strike a balance between 1) focusing on learning methods that draw on your natural strengths and 2) diversifying your learning methods across the spectrum of intelligences. We are most effective when operating within our strengths, but a diversity of methods adds a dynamism and multi-perspective view that also enhances learning.
So go and conquer!
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