A Whole New Mind (Part 1)
1. What is L-Directed and R-Directed Thinking? Does my
subject require more of one than the other? How could I try and reach a
balance?
L-Directed thinking R-Directed thinking
what is said NOT
SEPARATE!
how things are said
Sequential
Simultaneous
Text
VERY
MUCH NEED
Context
Analyzes details
EACH OTHER TO BE
Synthesizes the big
SUCCESSFUL!
picture
Logical, analytical
Recognizes patterns,
WORK
AS ONE WITH
synthesizes information
DUAL STRENGTHS
In elementary school, I strongly believe (very much
supported in this book) that both “ways” of thinking need to be promoted.
Students need to be provided with opportunities to construct, develop, and
practice both L-directed and R-directed thinking strategies (separate and in
conjunction with one another).
2. How do Abundance, Asia, and Automation affect the dominance of L-Directed thinking in business and schools?
Abundance,
Asia, and Automation are reducing the necessity of dominant L-Directed thinking
in business and schools. Abundance has created a necessity of creativity to
stand apart from the competition- the analytical, simple engineering of a
product that performs the desired task is not enough. It needs to perform the
task while also setting itself apart from the incredible amount of alternate
options that also perform the same task; requiring not only L-directed thinking
to develop the product, but also R-directed thinking to creatively set it apart
from the others.
Through education and training,
Asia has produced a multitude of workers who excel at L-directed thinking.
Companies are able to outsource their L-directed thinking (analytical and
concrete tasks) to these countries for much less money. This has reduced the
number of jobs available in this country requiring solely L-directed thinking.
Automation, or the use of
computers, has extremely reduced the dominance of L-directed thinking.
Computers can be programmed to exponentially outperform humans in many
L-directed thinking tasks. This
has also reduced the need for dominant L-directed thinking.
3. What is High Concept and High Touch. What is the impact of this on my teaching?
According to Pink, “High concept involves the capacity to
detect patterns and opportunities, to create artistic and emotional beauty, to
craft a satisfying narrative, and to combine seemingly unrelated ideas into
something new” (p. 2)
“High touch involves the ability to empathize with others,
to understand the subtleties of human interaction, to find joy in one’s self
and to elicit it in others, and to stretch beyond the quotidian in pursuit of
purpose and meaning” (p. 3)
In essence, high concept is the ability think, act, and
recognize creative and expressive actions involving objects or ideas. In
relation to this, high touch connects to the emotional and relational actions
and feelings involving oneself and others. These concepts connect and strongly
support the need to foster a warm, caring and supportive environment within the
classroom. In doing this, high touch will be attainable, supporting the ability
for students to engage effectively in high concept.
4. What are the flaws of an education system that only values IQ? Is there also a role for EQ in education?
An education system that only values IQ is extremely flawed. For
one, IQ is measured in an extremely L-directed thinking manner (as described by
Pink). This not only excludes and disvalues people with extremely valuable
talents and ideas, but also disregards the importance for all people to strive to
have balance in both ways of thinking. Secondly, as argued by Pink, the demand
in our society is moving away from L-directed thinking skills and toward more R-directed
thinking skills. Therefore, why should we propel an education system that only
tests and values the standard definition of IQ (extremely L-directed)? However,
this does not mean that I do not support or value IQ. I believe that an
educational system needs to strive to achieve a balance between valuing IQ and EQ.
This will support a balance of L-directed and R-directed thinking, and instead
of valuing one way as better than the other, we can instead value individuals
for their true strengths.
Kitri,
ReplyDeleteI can imagine that you really loved reading this especially after your experience last semester. I'm glad that you are going to be a teacher that promotes creative thinking in her students! I really liked the way you displayed the differences between L- and R-Directed Thinking. You are so High Concept :)
I agree with you that both L-Directed Thinking and R-Directed Thinking need to be valued in our schools. I also think that they need to be valued in general. You are right, an educational system that only values IQ is extremely flawed!
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you in that we need to find a balance between ID and EQ. Neither should be considered more valuable to school because they can both reveal different aspects of the students.
ReplyDelete