I am currently reading Art as Experience by John Dewey for an Art History course that I am taking. As you know, Dewey is a revered education psychology contributor. He writes,
"Life itself consists of phases in which the organism falls out of step with the march of surrounding things and then recovers unison with it--either through effort or by some happy change. And, in a growing life, the recovery is never mere return to a prior state, for it is enriched by the state of disparity and resistance through which it has successfully passed. If the gap between organism and environment is too wide, the creature dies. If its activity is not enhanced by the temporary alienation, it merely subsists. Life grows when a temporary falling out is a transition to a more extensive balance of the energies of the organism with those of the conditions under which it lives" (13).
I have been contemplating a few of Dewey's ideas for awhile now. Here are my applications and conclusions.
1) We are different each moment that we live. We are never the same. Every interaction that we, as educators have with parents, students, or colleagues, matters. We have an opportunity to make a difference all the time.
2) We must use appropriate scaffolding (the case for differentiated instruction) with our students as much as possible. Students won't learn if "the gap" is too wide. If the gap is too narrow, not much changes. However, when the gap is just right, life grows, knowledge grows, and faith grows.
3) Being "safe" in one's faith means that faith will continue. Being overly challenged or attacked means that faith might die. However, being challenged appropriately can help faith GROW.
What an opportunity to strengthen faith! What a humble calling!
"Life itself consists of phases in which the organism falls out of step with the march of surrounding things and then recovers unison with it--either through effort or by some happy change. And, in a growing life, the recovery is never mere return to a prior state, for it is enriched by the state of disparity and resistance through which it has successfully passed. If the gap between organism and environment is too wide, the creature dies. If its activity is not enhanced by the temporary alienation, it merely subsists. Life grows when a temporary falling out is a transition to a more extensive balance of the energies of the organism with those of the conditions under which it lives" (13).
I have been contemplating a few of Dewey's ideas for awhile now. Here are my applications and conclusions.
1) We are different each moment that we live. We are never the same. Every interaction that we, as educators have with parents, students, or colleagues, matters. We have an opportunity to make a difference all the time.
2) We must use appropriate scaffolding (the case for differentiated instruction) with our students as much as possible. Students won't learn if "the gap" is too wide. If the gap is too narrow, not much changes. However, when the gap is just right, life grows, knowledge grows, and faith grows.
3) Being "safe" in one's faith means that faith will continue. Being overly challenged or attacked means that faith might die. However, being challenged appropriately can help faith GROW.
What an opportunity to strengthen faith! What a humble calling!
Comments
Post a Comment