I see the potential created by not only allowing for self directed learning but by actively encouraging it, 'holding lightly'. To encourage creativity we as educators need to create tension between the control and chaos. Balance (and often patience) is key.
This type of approach may not work for all learners from various cultures and mindsets as it requires the learner to embrace a certain degree of responsibility and opportunity. However majority of the individuals I work with are adult learners in sustainable practice that I facilitate through a process of discovery and hopefully through a mental shift. Majority of the time these learners merely require some light guidance and the chaos creates a certain degree of excitement in treading unknown territory. My perception is that if I did hold on too tightly they would never challenge their thinking and things would their thinking would remain the same, constrained by unsustainable mental models.
Ellie I love the image and the metaphor for yourself as a teacher which you are describing. I agree totally with your last statement - about not holding on too tightly and challenging people's thinking - though they often do not like it and it can make them feel uncomfortable. I guess the key is the structure around the guidance you give - providing some sort of ballast or railing to hang on to when the going gets fragmented and uncertainties arise.
ReplyDeleteAdvocates of critical thinking agree it is a messy business and as you say there can be chaos initially. In fact, for effective critical analysis, practitioners need to go through a process of discomfort and chaos, and they will not like it. An important disposition for a critical thinker to have is openmindedness and if you do not already have this trait, things could get rocky. what other dispositions do you believe people need to be critical practitioners?
This is such a nice image Ellie, I really relate to it for my own teaching as well. It is somewhat like a parenting role, guiding and nurturing while also letting go.
ReplyDeleteI think the chaos you describe is also a great realisation by the students who feel free to explore the knowledge instead of it being spoonfed. That is an important shift in thinking yet the freedom can backfire when we try to overcome a lack of motivation! It is a fine balance, isn't it?