tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-128947711840351682.post8085460832817419880..comments2023-10-22T06:04:54.088-07:00Comments on CURIOSITY: educationcuriosityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14846024410659257617noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-128947711840351682.post-84578269070275248262007-11-02T14:13:00.000-07:002007-11-02T14:13:00.000-07:00First off, great little blog, Dave. I found my way...First off, great little blog, Dave. I found my way here through Tim Christy's blog.<BR/><BR/>Here's my thought. I agree that formal education teaches us the time-proven and/or fashionable ways to do things, it can put us in a box. I didn't realize how in-the-box I was until I was talking to a South African friend of mine. I remember saying something about a controversial topic, and he was laughing at my style of speech: "You Americans are so worried about coming across the wrong way."<BR/><BR/>I realized then that I exist in this coporate-trained attitude that prevents me from pushing the line, because to do so would be "antisocial." Heck, we're not even allowed to share our well-supported opinions on topics that other students or faculty consider off-limits.<BR/><BR/>I appreciate Tim Christy's attitude that there are no wrong answers. I read recently that teachers in England encourage creativity by recognizing the value in "how" students arrive at a conclusion as well as the quality of the conclusion, itself. This approach seems more conducive to creativity.<BR/><BR/>One last thought: when an instructor knows a subject thoroughly, he/she can understand approaches from different points of view. I've had a lot of instructors who were so narrow in their understanding that they couldn't see any other approaches to a problem. This became obvious when students would share an unconventional approach and the instructor - obviously missing the point - simply continued on in the same direction he/she was heading, without really acknowledging the student's point. <BR/><BR/>Consequently, smart students learn quickly not to waste class time with other unconventional approaches.<BR/><BR/>Love the blog.Chris Stadlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05300682374283672095noreply@blogger.com