This is a thought provoking book on "education" and "learning" by Ellen Langer.
It argues that traditional methods of learning can produce mindless behaviour because they tend to suggest that there is only one answer to a problem or a single correct way to tackle a task.
Ellen argues that it is important to teach skills and facts conditionally, to adopt varying perspectives and to set the stage for doubt and an awareness that different situations may call for different approaches or answers.
The book describes seven myths that in the view of the author undermine true learning and discuses how we can avoid their debilitating effects.
The myths are:
The basics must be learnt so well that they become second nature.
Paying attention means staying focused on one thing at one time.
Delaying gratification is important.
Rote memorisation is necessary in education.
Forgetting is a problem.
Intelligence is knowing "what's out there."
There are right and wrong answers.
The arguments are backed up by a number of scientific studies - many of them conducted by the author her self.
David Gurteen's comments: Whether you agree with all her ideas or not - the book will cause you to question some very deeply held beliefs - something we all need to do from time to time!
Not only do we as individuals get locked into single-minded views, but we also reinforce these views for each other until the culture itself suffers the same mindlessness.
If you are interested in Knowledge Management, the
Knowledge Café
or the role of conversation in organizational life then you my be interested in this online book I am writing on
Conversational Leadership
The Gurteen Knowledge Community is a global learning community
of over 21,000 people in 160 countries across the world.
The community is for people who are committed to making a difference:
people who wish to share and learn from each other and who strive to see
the world differently, think differently and act differently.
Membership of the Gurteen Knowledge Community is free.