The way we learn

coberst, I am not big on long responses, so I only have two things to say.

First, Maslow:



Second, I think teachers should, just as Alfred Binet, look at the nature of a student's mistakes, because that is the way to intervene.

I have had a reader's block for some time now, and I think that is a good thing.

There is Piaget, of course, but I won't go into that now.

Huh?

<smile> Which part of my response did you have a problem with, cj?

Letty


Abraham Maslow defined a hierarchy of needs to be:
1) Biological and Physiological (water, food, shelter, air, sex, etc.)
2) Safety (security, law and order, stability, etc.)
3) Belonging and love (family, affection, community, etc.)
4) Esteem (self-esteem, independence, prestige, achievement, etc.)
5) Self-Actualization (self-fulfillment, personal growth, realizing personal potential, etc.)

This hierarchy made us conscious of the obvious fact that we did not fret about the absence of self-esteem if we did not already have security nor did we worry about security if we did not have water to drink or air to breath.

The pinnacle of needs Maslow labeled S-A (Self-Actualization). In "The Farther Reaches of Human Nature" 1971, Maslow speaks of these needs and he apparently (as far as I know) introduced this new concept S-A as in "mid-stream rather than ready for formulation into a final version".

Maslow said "The people I selected for my investigation were older people…When you select out for careful study very fine and healthy people…you are asking how tall can people grow, what can a human being become?"

Our instrumental rationality and good fortune has provided some of us (i.e. worldwide) a degree of longevity and affluence that allows us to focus attention upon this highest need that Maslow has illuminated.

Instinct helped our species survive to the point where civilization began. Reason then became an aid to move us further to the point where reason often presented us with more problems than reason helps us solve. The problems of the individual in society now is a need we recognize but reason has created an environment that adds a note of emergency to this need. We must soon learn to swim or else we shall sink.

To get an idea about S-A you might examine http://www.performance-unlimited.com/samain.htm You can do a Google and find other sites that you might find more interesting.

I would like to discuss this concept Maslow defines as Self-Actualization and in addition the means by which one might strive to self-actualize. I think Critical Thinking is an important, if not necessary, condition for reaching a level of self-actualization. I consider CT to be ?'philosophy light'.

coberst, I'm afraid that I steer more toward precis than paraphrase. If we cannot reduce philosophy to its simplest terms, then we really can't think critically.

You and I, and I am certain cj, understand Maslow, but the most important aspect of his pyramid is that if one cannot satisfy basic needs, then there will be no self actualization.

cj, you probably were wondering why I think a "reader's block" is a good thing. Well, dear, I lived my entire life in books and actually became each one I read. It's almost like having multiple personalities. Now, I like my own. <smile>I suppose that means I have self actualized.

What?

cj wrote:


and then




Try banging him in the head with that pyramid, it might help.

As for the pyramid, isn't self actualization the product of all the needs of the lower levels fulfilled?
Is that why the top is elevated?

Exactly, Cyracuz. Each level is a foundation for the next.

There is also a theory called, The notion of a social supporter. It has to do with having a confederate in the classroom prompting the students with clues, or actually feeding them answers. One of the best discussions that I have ever had, was using this technique, and each child begins to get into it and feel good about themselves, and, of course, learn.

Hey, cj is a signifier.

What a great idea. I need a 'social supporter' on these discussion forums. If you were more interested in paragraphs than short sentences you could be my social supporter.

Paragraphs?

coberst, do you mean paraphrases? cj, go to your room.<smile>

Letty

Its not important--I was just trying to be funny.

It was funny coberst.

You still got it.

Ok, coberst. I think humor is the best philosophy that I know. Glad this thread got started, buddy.