In response to question #4...

I have never blogged before today, so bare with me:
If Pink's thinking is correct, we as educators are going to be faced with finding ways to reach R-Directed thinking students. This will be challenging to those of us who have been teaching for many years to a mostly L-Directed student body. We will need to come up with strategies and techniques which will help us reach or even direct students to be more R-directed. Perhaps we will need to become more metaphorical or contextual in our teaching methods. Try to teach a whole picture rather than a single concept or standard?? I guess this would also require a "rewiring" of our own ways of thinking.

Assignment 1: Reflecting on Chapters 1, 2, and 3

Post a response to at least one of the questions below. Comment on at least one other posting by another participant.

1. Daniel Pink presents two approaches to thinking: L-Directed thinking, characterized by "sequential, literal, functional, textual, and analytic" forms of thinking that is "emphasized in schools", and R-Directed thinking, characterized by "simultaneous, metaphorical, aesthetic, contextual, and synthetic forms of thinking that are "neglected in schools". He states that we need both approaches in order to create and maintain "productive, just societies", and even though L-Directed thinking has enjoyed a run of favoritism, things are changing. R-Directed thinking will soon determine who succeeds and who falters. What are your thoughts about this?

2. Does your classroom or school promote L-Directed or R-Directed thinking. How? What is the evidence for your answer?

3. Pink attributes the causes for this shift in thinking to abundance, Asia, and automation. Share your reaction to this part of the reading. Be sure to include any "ah-ha's" you might have had as you were reading.

4. If Pink's predictions are accurate, what is the impact for us as educators? What kinds of changes will we have to make to accommodate and support and R-Directed thinking? What happens if we, as leaders are not R-Directed?

5. Education of the heart? Talk about it!

6. IQ vs. EQ--where does this fit into the new standards?

A quote I like..

On page 15-- "Drawing is not very difficult... Seeing is the problem."  I think this is so interesting. This is true in the visual channel as well as others. We put things in our preconceived "box" and have trouble finding creative solutions that are "outside the box." Often this leads to a defeatist attitude on the part of students and adults... "It can't be done. It won't work. It is impossible." We all need to more in touch with our creative self and we need to show children how valuable it is and reward alternative ways of seeing instead of just "the right answer."

Hi, I am looking forward to reading "A Whole New Mind" and recieving some inservice credit. I have begun to read this book and although it is too early to make a well based comment, I will make a comment about the book: I think that I am going to disagree with about 60 percent of the author's opinions and theories.

Book Study Blog Description

This book study blog is designed for teachers in Sumner County Schools for the purpose of professional development. All teachers who participate in this blog must have prior approval by the blog host, Carla Cushman.