knowing to the power of four · knowing to the power of four k x k x k x k=k4 the integral learning...

24
Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K 4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: Dr Julia Atkin Education & Learning Consultant “Bumgum” Harden-Murrumburrah NSW 2587 Ph +61 2 63863342 Fax +61 2 63863317 [email protected] http://www.learning-by-design.com © Julia Atkin, 2008

Upload: others

Post on 08-May-2020

7 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4

The Integral Learning Model

Designed and presented by:

Dr Julia Atkin Education & Learning Consultant

“Bumgum” Harden-Murrumburrah NSW 2587

Ph +61 2 63863342 Fax +61 2 63863317

[email protected] http://www.learning-by-design.com

© Julia Atkin, 2008

Page 2: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 1

Teaching as an art and a science Teaching is both an art and a science. We all know what good teaching is when we experience it. Since the early 1970’s I have been attempting to understand and articulate what a good teacher does so that we can all learn how to be better teachers. My personal theory of learning and teaching has been informed and clarified by my own research and by the work of other learning theorists and commentators on learning, thinking and intelligence. Parallel to this research I have been developing a theory of learning from the ‘chalkface’. The depth and richness of my current understanding about learning and teaching has developed from, and owes much to, my day to day work with many, many thousands of learners and teachers.

What learning do I value?

The critical question in designing education for learning, is what is the nature of learning that we value? Humans can learn in a variety of ways. We can learn like parrots, playing back like a tape recorder what we have heard. Humans can learn like robots - 'monkey see - monkey do' type learning carrying out actions without thought, or we can assume attitudes and beliefs without questioning them. Human learning has the capacity to be far richer than this. We can learn in a way that transforms; in a way that endows our experience with meaning; in a way that empowers us to adapt, to perform and to create. I value learning that: • develops understanding and personal meaning • develops competence through mastery of skills and processes • develops the learner’s ability to articulate and share their knowledge • enables the learner to transfer learning from one context to another in authentic life

situations What supports and enhances the learning? This is an enormous field. For the purposes of this outline let me simply summarise a few of my key beliefs about learning and the implications of these beliefs in terms of learning design. 1. Learning requires moving outside our ‘comfort zone’; it involves taking risks. Learners will not take a risk unless they have a secure base.

Although the Integral Learning design model focuses more on engaging and stimulating appropriate ways of thinking and knowing, it assumes that the learning environment is supportive and yet challenging for the learners concerned.

2. Humans move towards experiences from which they gain a sense of self worth and achievement.

It is critical, in designing any learning that we think clearly about the readiness of the learner(s) and set challenging but achievable tasks. No design model can provide this information for a teacher. Any learning design should be viewed with your particular learners in mind.

Page 3: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 2

3. Learner driven learning is more likely to be effective and meaningful.

In principle this means good learning design will maintain ownership by the learner, nurture a sense of agency and tap intrinsic motivation. In practice this means: • surfacing and connecting with students’ experiential knowledge, their personal story

knowledge. • finding out what students know, what they want to know, how they want to learn

and letting it influence your design. • designing to include open ended aspects; aspects that require self expression; giving

choice

4. Learning with meaning and understanding involves constructing and reconstructing meaning from our experiences.

The term ‘constructivism’ has been thrown around with gay abandon in educational circles. What does it really mean? Constructivism

There is a belief shared by most psychologists who study human learning, that from birth to senescence or death, each of us constructs and reconstructs the meaning of events and objects we observe. It is an ongoing process, and a distinctly human process. The genetic make up of every normal human being confers upon all of us this extraordinary capacity to see regularities in the events or objects we observe and, by age two or three, to use symbols to represent these regularities.

Joseph D. Novak (Novak 1992) Powerful human learning involves constructing and reconstructing our own meaning in the world. However this does not mean that an individual’s learning should be limited by the bounds of the world they experience directly. Nor does it mean that the learner is left alone to construct meaning entirely unaided. The open discovery approaches of the seventies were misguided in the sense that they did not recognise that a part of the challenge for educators is to help individuals construct, for themselves, the understandings that other minds have discovered before them. Left to chance, or open discovery, my belief is that you would have to be Einstein, or Einstein-like, to discover what he discovered. In words written a long time ago. . .

The task of the teacher is not to put knowledge where it does not exist, but rather to lead the mind’s eye so that it might see for itself. Plato

In some schools, the swing away from a heavy emphasis on ‘knowing about’, and ‘knowing what others know about’, resulted in many students going through school without knowing vital facts–eg maths tables facts. You are limited and constrained in mathematical thinking and problem solving if you have to work it out, look it up, or use a calculator every time you want to process something like seven times four. The challenge for educators is to discern what facts, what procedures, what skills need be automated to ensure that further learning and thinking is not impeded. The learning secret is to ensure that those facts are only automated after deep understanding is in place. There are many names and labels given to the constructivist notion of learning. They all have as key components - action or experience, reflection, intention to improve or enhance action, action, reflection, refined understanding, honed skills. The learning process is described as an ongoing spiralling process.

Page 4: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 3

The essence of a constructivist approach is the construction of meaning by the learner. This does not mean that the learner is left alone to learn, nor does it mean that whatever meaning the learner makes is accepted. The role of the teacher is to decipher what meaning, what ‘mental models’ the learner is already thinking with and then to design experiences and ‘nudge’ processing so that the learner’s ‘mental models’ are challenged, enriched, expanded and elaborated.

If we are left alone to process our experience (no talking to anyone else, no teacher intervention) the way we would process our world would be largely determined by our thinking or processing style and the mental models we had constructed previously through our experience.

Our Four Selves Ways of thinking - ways of knowing

Educators have long been aware that students are different. A catch phrase of the seventies and eighties was 'we must cater for individual differences’. At an intuitive level, teachers know that students think differently, that they learn differently. The recent wave of interest in learning styles springs, I believe, from our desire to understand and describe those individual differences, to put a frame around them, to 'map' them and to respond to them in our teaching. However, we run the risk of the wave washing over us and past us like many another educational fad if we don't do more than we have done currently to be explicit about what we mean by the term 'learning style' and how the concept sheds light on the process of learning. There is also confusion in teacher circles as to how different concepts are related. For example, how does Howard Gardner’s model of Multiple Intelligences relate to learning style?. Responses given by teachers, when asked what the term means to them, range from: "Some people learn better by seeing (visual), others by hearing (auditory) and others by doing (kinaesthetic)" to "Some students like to write poems as a way of expressing what they know while others enjoy work sheets or reading". In the United States of America, and increasingly in Australia, there are a multitude of models of learning styles being used. The situation in the United States appears more problematic to me as there are many vested interests marketing and promoting the learning style inventories and the associated professional development programs and there does not seem to be any concerted effort to show how the models relate to each other or if they do relate to each other. It is healthy to investigate and explore different models but at some point in time an effort needs to be made to find unity in the models, to draw out there common elements and to show how a unified model helps us refine and make distinctions concerning our understanding of the general process of learning. How do we find our way through the confusion to decipher what will help us help students learn more effectively?

Multiple Intelligences Howard Gardner has identified 8 separate human intelligences

• Logical-mathematical • Visual spatial • Linguistic • Musical • Kinaesthetic • Interpersonal • Intrapersonal • Naturalist

Page 5: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 4

And he is investigating metaphysical/spiritual intelligence. A person’s intelligence profile represents how their unique mind expresses itself. But what underpins these different ways of responding and expressing oneself? Our individual intelligence profiles are an expression of our particular ways of filtering and processing information we receive – our learning style.

Dimensions of Learning Style • environmental preference What sort of environment works best for you for learning? • sensory mode preference - AVK preference pattern

A - auditory V-visual K-kinaesthetic What do you pay more attention to when you are receiving information?

– what you hear? – what you see? – what you feel?

Or do you pay equal attention to all modes? Two modes? • thinking style preference • dependent . . . . independent preference These dimensions tend to merge and overlap with personality styles, leadership styles etc. The dimension of learning style which is the focus of this workshop is thinking style.

ACTIVITY 1. Discuss how you rate yourself on the above dimensions of learning style. 2. Reflect on a few students that you have taught….can you identify their strong intelligences and dimensions of their learning style?

Page 6: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 5

Understanding Diversity - Styles of thinking Simplified anatomy of the brain What is the Brain like Physically? Basic Brain Anatomy

• three evolutionary levels neocortex - cerebral, intellectual activity limbic system - emotions regulatory centre memory reptilian - basic memory, instinctual • two hemispheres - two hemispheres of neocortex connected by thick bundle of nerve fibres - Corpus callosum - two hemispheres of limbic system - connected by nerve fibres - Hippocampal commissure - fibres connect the different levels of the brain and different regions of the brain - front and back, top and bottom etc • functions of the brain tend to be localised • when presented with a situation the local region specialised to perform the task is active (in some tasks multiple regions are involved) while other regions are in a resting state - the ability to call the appropriate brain activity into play is crucial to person's effectiveness as a learner and in 'doing'

Figure 1 Simplified anatomy of the brain

q

Movement control

Emotions

(limbic)

Vision

Balance

Intellectual

activities

(abstract,

cerebral)

neocortex

limbic system

reptilian

Page 7: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 6

How we processes information Humans have several different ways of processing information. The diagram below illustrates two contrasting modes of processing. They have become known as 'right mode' processing and 'left mode' processing due to different ways of processing becoming the subject of attention following the ‘split brain research’. Not everyone actually uses the left side of their brain for analytical processing and the right side for intuitive processing. Left-handers especially may (or may not) have the location of the types of processing reversed. Moreover, brain processing is iterative and complex. Wherever and however it occurs, it seems that all brains do use two distinctly different forms of processing information - a holistic, pattern making process commonly known as 'right mode' processing, and a linear, logical, analytical processing commonly known as 'left mode' processing. Prior to the relatively recent neuroscience research we already acknowledged these different ways of processing and the propensity of individuals to process in different ways: He can’t see the wood for the trees! Differences in the natures of ‘right’ and ‘left mode’ processing are illustrated below.

Source: Adapted from Williams 1983, p.5.

Figure 2 Right mode versus left mode processing Effective learning and operating requires that the ability to use both types of processing - sometimes in isolation and sometimes in tandem. Learning with deep meaning involves integration of multiple ways of knowing.

Left Mode Right Mode

CAT

5 - five

Words Images

SymbolsNumbers"Counts"

Patterns"Fiveness""Estimates"

Parts Wholes

SequentialLinear"Cause & effect"

SimultaneousPatternsConnectionsIntegrated

Page 8: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 7

Metacognition - understanding preferred styles of processing and recognising when and how to consciously control thinking and processing is a large part of what learning to learn is all about. Effective teaching requires the stimulation of, and providing ‘scaffolds’ for the appropriate processing for the learning task. ‘Brain Dominance’

In addition to having a preferred hand, preferred eye and preferred leg we also have preferred modes of thinking that Ned Herrmann termed brain dominance. What's the basis for brain dominance?

How do we show ‘brain dominance’ or thinking style preferences and how does it affect how we learn, think, manage, communicate and solve problems? Consider what we know about the brain physically and in terms of styles of processing.

- two hemispheres - characterised by different types of processing, one type analytical and sequential focusing on bits, the other intuitive, recognises patterns, holistic focusing on the forest. - three evolutionary levels * cerebral cortex - rational, conceptual * limbic - emotional, 'doing' * reptilian - basic memory, instinctive behaviour, autonomic body control. Put the ideas above together, Ned Herrmann developed a model of processing which involves sides [hemispheres] and levels. In an excellent book, The Creative Brain, Ned Herrmann (Herrmann 1989) has put these ideas together in what he calls the WHOLE BRAIN MODEL of learning, thinking and doing. On the one hand we have styles of processing which, following the split brain research of the fifties to seventies, were attributed to different sides of the brain - the one more analytical, logical, factual, sequential and controlled, the other more holistic, intuitive, spontaneous and free, AND we have at least two different sources of stimulation of processing corresponding to two different levels of the brain - the one more abstract, rational and conceptual [neocortex], the other [limbic] more to do with processing sensory and emotional information - doing and feeling rather than reflecting - Figure 3.

Page 9: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 8

Herrmann's Whole Brain Model

Figure 3 Herrmann's Whole Brain Model

Our Four Thinking Selves

LOGICAL

ANALYTICAL

QUANTITATIVE

FACT BASED

PLANNED

ORGANIZED

DETAILED

SEQUENTIAL

HOLISTIC

INTUITIVE

SYNTHESIZING

INTEGRATING

EMOTIONAL

INTERPERSONAL

FEELING BASED

KINESTHETIC

Cerebral Mode

Thinking Processes

Right Mode

Thinking Processes

Left Mode

Thinking Processes

Limbic Mode

Thinking Processes

B C

DA

IMAGIN

ATIV

E,

EXPERIMEN

TAL SELF

ORD

ERED,

SAFEKEEPIN

G SELF

FEEL

ING,

INTE

RPER

SONAL SE

LF

RATIONAL,

THEO

RETICAL

SELF

Source: Herrmann 1989:64

Figure 4 Herrmann's Whole Brain Model

A

B C

neocortex

limbic system

reptilian

D

D RIGHT CEREBRAL

HEMISPHERE ALEFT CEREBRAL

HEMISPHERE CORPUS CALLOSUM

THALAMUS

HIPPOCAMPAL COMMISSURE

HYPOTHALAMUS

CEREBELLUM

C RIGHT HALF OF

LIMBIC SYSTEMLEFT HALF OF

LIMBIC SYSTEM B

TRIUNE BRAIN

Page 10: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 9

Figure 5

Page 11: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 10

Herrmann calls his four quadrant model of brain processes a metaphor for how the brain processes information. Just as most individuals show a preference for handedness, he proposed that individuals differ in the way they favour or prefer different ways of processing, the different ways of thinking and knowing. Individuals show different brain dominance patterns or different thinking preferences, different thinking styles.

Note: The fact that some individuals prefers to process information or solve problems in certain ways does not mean they are not capable of using other modes nor does it mean they are unable to become more proficient in the use of the less preferred modes. The positive and optimistic thing about Herrmann's whole brain processing model is that it points the way to helping individuals understand themselves and others and indicates ways in which less preferred modes can be accessed and developed. It is important to distinguish between 'preference' and 'capability' 'or 'capacity'.

Determining your preferred thinking style

Ned Herrmann has developed an instrument [questionnaire] to determine your thinking style preference called the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument [HBDI]. The diagrams below represent the thinking style profiles of five different individuals. You can see from the patterns that person 1 is more left mode dominant and shows a particular preference for thinking for action, thinking for doing. Can you predict what this person would be like? Person 2 shows a fairly balanced profile with relatively similar preferences for each of the quadrants, while person 3 has fairly evenly distributed preference in the A, B and D quadrants with a stronger preference for the C quadrant. Can you predict what this person would be like?

A

B C

D A

B C

D A

B C

D

A

B C

D A

B C

D

Person 1 Person 2 Person 3

Person 4 Person 5 Figure 6 Herrmann Brain Dominance profiles for five individuals

Page 12: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 11

Thinking style and learning Our thinking style influences the sorts of activities and approaches we like and expect in learning AND not surprisingly, our thinking style influences our preferred teaching style.

For communication & learning. . . likes and expects

Expects: Brief, clear concise info. Well articulated ideas Logical format Accuracy Certainty Enjoys: A good debate Critical analysis Readings

Expects: An overview A conceptual framework Freedom to explore Analogies/metaphors Visuals Enjoys: Initiative and imagination Connections to other approaches Newness & !fun"

Expects: Step by step unfolding Detailed program Punctuality Explanation of how Enjoys: Structured approach Low risk Concrete examples

Expects: Involvement with others Personal anecdotes Experiential approach Feelings to be considered Enjoys: The personal touch Group discussion Harmony

A

B C

D

© Ned Herrmann, adapted by Julia Atkin, 1997 .Figure 7 Likes and expectations for communication and learning The usual conclusion drawn is that as teachers we need to provide activities in each quadrant for the learners who have strong preferences in those modes BUT effective learning involves applying the appropriate style of processing to the task. If a learner is highly inclined towards one mode of processing - one quadrant or one side of the whole brain model, or the limbic versus the cerebral, he/she will tend to approach tasks in that mode even when it's not the most appropriate mode - even when it's not likely to lead to success. The art of being an effective learner and 'doer' is having the ability to draw on the appropriate mode for the task. The art of being an effective teacher/designer of learning is to engage the learner in the appropriate thinking mode(s) for the task. Although, as the last diagram shows, different thinking preferences may result in different likes and expectations with regards to learning it is my contention that effective learning involves applying the appropriate style of processing to the task. If a learner is highly inclined towards one mode of processing - one quadrant or one side of the whole brain model, or the limbic versus the cerebral, he or she will tend to approach tasks in that mode even when it's not the most appropriate mode - even when it's not likely to lead to success. The art of being an effective learner and 'doer' is having the ability to draw on the appropriate mode for the task. The art of being an effective teacher is to engage the learner in the appropriate thinking mode(s) for the task.

Page 13: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 12

Let’s take creative writing for example. A student who has a strong preference for left mode processing and who is left alone to write a creative piece of writing tends to write in a very literal descriptive way. Someone with a strong right mode preference is automatically engaging processing that will bring forth images and emotion. The question becomes what strategies will be effective in engaging the person with a preference for left mode thinking in right mode processing. The diagram on the next page illustrates teaching strategies that stimulate various modes of processing. The danger with this model is that you can walk away from it thinking “Oh okay. If I use a variety of strategies from around each of the modes I’ll catch all the learners eventually.” It’s not as simple as that. It’s not about catching them in their style, nor leaving them in their style. How do we help learners construct understandings that others have made before them? Unless you have a thinking style like Einstein you will never come to understand what he understood. If the learning I value involves: • developing understanding and personal meaning • developing competence through mastery of skills and processes • developing the learner’s ability to articulate and share their knowledge • enabling the learner to transfer learning from one context to another in authentic life situations . . .then for each individual, all modes of processing need to be stimulated and integrated regardless of personal thinking style. Truly effective learning, learning which can be transferred to new situations and communicated to others, will be known in the many languages of the brain and these ways of knowing will be integrated and coherent. Knowing will be an integration and internalisation of our experiences, our feelings, our imagination and our analysing and it will find expression in many modes of 'doing' from procedural application to a variety of creative forms.

Page 14: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 13

Integral Learning How can Hermmann's model of whole brain processing be integrated with our discussions about the nature of learning. In this section we will synthesise the elements we have discussed into a model of learning that I have called ‘Integral Learning’. Firstly, an activity to set the stage for the connections I wish to make.

Activity Spend 20-30 secs thinking about the object mentioned.

• Share your thinking as richly as you can with those in your group.

• Note the various ways in which people thought about the object.

Typically, in a group of people, there will be demonstrations of ways of knowing, different ways of thinking. Some people will think about specific examples of chairs and perhaps start stating the facts, others will image the object, some will enter into story mode and think of a situation in which the object had meaning to them, others will focus on the nature or essence of the object while some others will categorise and define the object. Although individuals show preferences for the way in which they think about the object, it is likely that all individuals employed a combination of different processing modes in an iterative fashion.

It is my contention that, left alone to learn, individuals will develop ways of knowing that are an expression of their own thinking styles. Particular thinking styles lend themselves to particular ways of knowing. A person with a strong preference for C and D quadrant processing will engage in creative writing far more easily than a person strong in A and B quadrant processing and the style of the creative writing will naturally be more emotive and imaginative. Someone strong in A quadrant thinking will connect with and use symbolic language systems (as in Mathematics) far more readily than someone with a lower preference in this processing mode.

However, it appears that regardless of preferred processing style, learning occurs most readily and most effectively when whole brain processing is engaged, and in particular when the process of learning moves from experience to reflection on experience so that a "pattern" or framework allows the learner to grasp the meaning of the learning in the mind's eye and finally learning moves on to a facility to use language, rules, laws, principles for accuracy and efficiency in thinking, doing and further learning. The language is a symbol for what's grasped in the mind's eye which in turn is a mental representation of what has been experienced. The task of the teacher then is to “nudge” the processing so that all thinking modes are engaged regardless of style - Figure 9.

Page 15: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 14

Figure 9 Integral Learning - A whole brain model of learning [Atkin 1992 b] Note: My approach is somewhat different to other people working with learning styles and instructional design. Some people say "Teach to all the styles by varying your strategies and you will eventually reach everyone." My point is that the most powerful human learning occurs when we stimulate and integrate all our ways of knowing – knowing to the power of four! In the process of doing this you will also be affirming individuals because you have addressed their preferences, however, it is not sufficient to "know" something only in your preference. Truly effective learning, learning which can be transferred to new situations and communicated to others, will be known in the many languages of the brain and these ways of knowing will be integrated and coherent. Knowing will be an integration and internalisation of our experiences, our feelings, our imagination and our analysing and it will find expression in many modes of 'doing' from procedural application to a variety of creative forms.

Appropriate mental processing for learning - integration of experiential knowledge, imagination, understanding, information, clarification and action

RightLeft

Cerebral

Limbic

MeaningUnderstanding

AccuracyEfficiency

Language,

definitions,rules,

symbols

PROPOSITIONAL

KNOWLEDGE

CONCEPTUAL

KNOWLEDGEGRASP IN

THEMIND'S EYE

EXPERIENCE

SENSE

Feel, relate to

self, engagement

of self

PROCEDURAL

& FACTUAL

KNOWLEDGE

PERSONAL

EXPERIENTIAL

KNOWLEDGEInformation,

routines

Image, analogy,

pattern, insight,

sense of. . .

THINK

REFLECT

expressapply, practise

represent

Human learning is deepened and amplified by integrating our multiple ways of knowing.

Teach to ENGAGE and INTEGRATE all modes of processing regardless of personal thinking style.

Integral Learning

Personal competence

Personal relevance

Page 16: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 15

gra

phic

repre

senta

tion -

im

ages, poste

rs, vid

eo

questionin

g -

How

? H

ow

can I u

se this

? W

hat are

the facts

?

gra

phic

repre

senta

tion -

analo

gue d

raw

ings

min

d m

appin

g

concept m

aps

associa

tion m

aps

hands o

n/c

oncre

te m

ate

rials

experiencin

gexcurs

ions

“im

mers

ion''

Th

ink

ing '

nu

dged

' &

sti

mu

late

d b

y:

• co

llab

ora

tion

, co

op

erati

ve

learn

ing

• q

ues

tion

ing

• p

osi

ng p

rob

lem

s, c

hall

enges

• d

esig

n p

roce

ss•

gam

es•

pre

dic

t -o

bse

rve-

exp

lain

• te

ach

ing, re

-pre

sen

tin

g e

g m

ult

imed

ia

analo

gy, m

eta

phor,

im

agery

min

d journ

ey -

im

ages

recognis

ing p

attern

s, m

nem

onic

s,

sim

ula

tion

role

pla

y

dra

ma

sto

ry, anecdote

, m

yth

, para

ble

min

d journ

ey -

experience, fe

el

talk

ing/d

iscussin

g/g

roup w

ork

rhyth

m, m

usic

, song

bra

insto

rmin

g, ra

ndom

associa

tion techniq

ues

gra

phic

repre

senta

tion -

flo

wchart

s, tim

elin

es

ste

p b

y s

tep w

ork

ing

meth

ods, pro

cedure

s, blu

eprints

min

d journ

ey -

sequence, pro

cess

pro

gra

mm

ing, pla

nners

, goal settin

g, lis

ts

str

uctu

red w

ork

sheets

, pra

ctice, consolid

ation

applic

ation form

ula

e!

min

d journ

ey -

'fly

on the w

all'

/watc

hin

g

develo

pin

g r

ule

s/form

ula

e/d

efinitio

ns

gra

phic

repre

senta

tion -

gra

phs, pie

chart

s,

s

tructu

red o

verv

iew

s

com

pare

and c

ontr

ast, c

ate

gorisin

g

analy

sis

of th

eories, G

ow

in's

Vee

LO

GIC

AL

AN

AL

YT

ICA

L

QU

AN

TIT

AT

IVE

FA

CT

BA

SE

D

PL

AN

NE

D

OR

GA

NIS

ED

DE

TA

ILE

D

SE

QU

EN

TIA

L

HO

LIS

TIC

INT

UIT

IVE

SY

NT

HE

SIS

ING

INT

EG

RA

TIN

G

EM

OT

ION

AL

INT

ER

PE

RS

ON

AL

FE

EL

ING

BA

SE

D

KIN

ES

TH

ET

IC

Cer

ebra

l M

od

e

Th

ink

ing P

roce

sses

Rig

ht

Mod

e

Th

ink

ing P

roce

sses

Lef

t M

od

e

Th

ink

ing P

roce

sses

Lim

bic

Mod

e

Th

ink

ing P

roce

sses

BCD

A

© J

uli

a A

tkin

, 1

99

0-2

00

0

S

trate

gie

s to

Pro

mote

In

tegra

l L

earn

ing

models

- p

hysic

al and c

onceptu

al

questionin

g -

Why? W

hat if?

questionin

g -

What has this

got to

do w

ith m

e?

applic

ation

questionin

g -

What pro

of?

W

hat re

asonin

g?

follo

win

g m

odels

, "s

caffold

s

Page 17: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 16

Co

nce

ptu

al,

' big

pic

ture

', m

eta

ph

ori

cal

vie

w.

Rati

on

al,

fa

ct, in

form

ati

on

, th

eo

ry b

ase

d v

iew

.

Pla

nn

ing,

gat

heri

ng

info

rmat

ion

, 'do

ing'

, fol

low

ing

rule

s , p

ract

isin

g. .

.

Pers

on

al-

inte

rpers

on

al,

exp

eri

en

tial,

'peo

ple

' vie

wS

hari

ng,

dis

cuss

ing,

exp

erie

nci

ng,

sen

sin

g, i

ntu

itin

g, e

xpre

ssin

g ...

Des

ign

ing,

con

nec

tin

g, u

nde

rsta

ndi

ng,

exp

lori

ng,

pat

tern

ing

. .C

lari

fyin

g, e

stab

lish

ing

theo

ries

, def

init

ion

s, p

roce

dure

s, r

ule

s. .

.

Str

uct

ure

d, o

rdere

d, d

eta

iled

, fa

ctu

al,

safe

keep

ing

vie

w.

AD

BC

Top

ic, t

hem

eF

ocu

s

© J

uli

a A

tkin

, 1

99

7

LE

AR

NIN

G O

UT

CO

ME

S

WA

YS

OF

KN

OW

ING

Def

init

ion

sP

roposi

tion

sR

ule

sF

orm

ula

eT

heo

ries

Con

cepts

Idea

sP

rin

ciple

sM

odel

s

Fact

sP

roce

du

res

Exam

ple

sS

kil

ls

Fee

lin

gs

Con

nec

tion

wit

h s

elf/

per

son

al

story

"G

ut

" s

ense

Valu

es /

Att

itu

des

WO

RL

D V

IEW

AN

D Q

UE

ST

ION

S

WO

RL

D V

IEW

AN

D Q

UE

ST

ION

S

KN

OW

S A

BO

UT

. .

. a

nd

K

NO

WS

WH

AT

OT

HE

R P

EO

PL

E K

NO

W A

BO

UT

. .

.

As

ks

"W

ha

t. .

?"

&

"Wh

at

pro

of.

. ?

"A

sk

s "

Wh

y.

. .?

& W

ha

t if

. .

.?"

A

sk

s "

Wh

at'

s t

his

go

t to

do

wit

h m

e?

"A

sk

s "

Ho

w..

?

Wh

at.

?"

an

d W

he

n.

. .?

"

KN

OW

S W

HY

.

KN

OW

S T

HA

T,

KN

OW

S H

OW

KN

OW

S W

HO

, W

HE

N,

& W

HE

RE

Page 18: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 17

Designing for Effective Learning - Key points:

Effective, meaningful learning requires: • engagement and willing participation by the learner • not all learners are intrinsically motivated need strategies to engage and motivate • a supportive learning environment that challenges, inspires and encourages • active and appropriate processing in the learner’s mind • learners have different processing/thinking styles

need strategies to stimulate various processing modes

need to teach – explicitly & implicitly – thinking

need to ‘learn to learn’ • Effective learning is characterised by: • felt personal meaning • that learners ‘get it’ – they can image it, understand it, see the pattern, grasp the essence • being able to express understanding in multiple ways including-

- verbal/symbolic language – the efficiency and precision of definitions, propositions, rules, symbols

- images - transfer-use in new situations

• mastery

Page 19: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 18

The first step in designing for effective learning – using the ‘Mu’ dictionary to articulate the concept in four ways of knowing

What is a ‘Mu’ dictionary? Why a ‘Mu’ dictionary? Have you ever looked up a dictionary definition of a term and been none the wiser for your trouble? One of the shortcomings of a traditional dictionary is that the verbal, propositional definition of a term does not always convey meaning. Take the definition of ‘positivism’ for example:

1 a: a theory that theology and metaphysics are earlier imperfect modes of knowledge and that positive knowledge is based on natural phenomena and their properties and relations as verified by the empirical sciences.

Whether the term ‘positivism’ now has meaning for you will depend on how much meaning the words used to define it have for you. The actual meaning each of us takes away from the propositional definition will depend on the meaning we initially ascribe to each of the words used to describe the term. ‘Shared meaning’ and ‘felt meaning’ are not guaranteed. ‘Mu’ is a Japanese term, which is connected to the Greek concept of ‘Arete’, which implies a respect for wholeness or oneness. ‘Mu’ thinking rejects ‘either-or’ thinking in favour of ‘both-and’ thinking. A ‘Mu’ dictionary attempts to express meaning in four different ‘ways of knowing’: propositional, factual, personal/experiential, conceptual. It attempts to develop greater ‘felt’ meaning through the use of personal story and greater ‘shared’ meaning through image and analogy. It also aims to develop precision and ‘definition’ in its true sense; i.e. the action or the power of describing, explaining, or making definite and clear. The assumption behind the approach of a ‘Mu’ Dictionary is that deepest understanding emerges from the integration of these four ‘ways of knowing’ – K4.

The Mu Dictionary for ‘tiger’ shown below is incomplete.

Tiger – a carnivorous Asian cat, the largest member of the cat family. Animalia – Chordata – Mammalia – Carnivora- Felidae

D: Abstracts essence, concept, expresses as image, analogy . . .

A: Defines, proposes, clarifies, classifies. . .

B: Names, gives examples, describes how . . . how . . .

C: Felt meaning, value, expresses as personal story . . .

Powerful, runs fast; tawny coat, black stripes Bengal tiger –occurs in India Panthera tigris tigris Siberian tiger – northern Panthera tigris altaica

TIGER

Page 20: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

KN

OW

ING

ABO

UT –

PRO

POSI

TIO

NAL

KNO

WLE

DGE

KNO

WIN

G E

XAM

PLES

, KNO

WIN

G H

OW

F

ACTU

AL P

ROCE

DURA

L KN

OW

LEDG

E

UNDE

RSTA

NDIN

G –

CO

NCEP

TUAL

KNO

WLE

DGE

SO W

HAT?

WHA

T’S

THIS

GO

T TO

DO

WIT

H M

E &

MY

LIFE

?

PERS

ONA

L ST

ORY

KNO

WLE

DGE

Mu

Dict

iona

ry D

efin

ition

How c

an I

def

ine

this?

Ho

w c

an I

des

crib

e it?

How c

an I

exp

lain t

his

to s

omeo

ne?

Is t

here

a R

ule?

Fo

rmul

ae?

How c

an I

exp

ress

thi

s as

an

imag

e?

Wha

t’s

an a

nalogy

for

it?

Mak

e a

mod

el

Illu

stra

tion

Exam

ples

La

bels

Fact

s M

etho

ds

Inst

ruct

ions

M

etho

ds

Skill

s

Stor

ies

Poem

s At

titu

des, f

eelin

gs

Can

I ex

pres

s th

is mus

ical

ly

Wha

t am

I g

oing

to

do w

ith

wha

t I

know

and

can

do?

© Ju

lia A

tkin

, 200

7

Page 21: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

KN

OW

ING

ABO

UT –

PRO

POSI

TIO

NAL

KNO

WLE

DGE

KNO

WIN

G E

XAM

PLES

, KNO

WIN

G H

OW

– FA

CTUA

L ,

P

ROCE

DURA

L KN

OW

LEDG

E

UNDE

RSTA

NDIN

G –

CO

NCEP

TUAL

KNO

WLE

DGE

SO W

HAT?

WHA

T’S

THIS

GO

T TO

DO

WIT

H M

E &

MY

LIFE

?

PERS

ONA

L ST

ORY

KNO

WLE

DGE

© Ju

lia A

tkin

, 200

7

Page 22: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 21

The second step – designing strategies to help learners’ develop each way of knowing.

AD

BC

Top

ic, t

hem

eFocus

© G

ene

Mye

rs -

adapte

d b

y Ju

lia A

tkin

, 1994-2

000

LE

AR

NIN

G E

XP

ER

IE

NC

E &

ST

RA

TE

GIE

S

LE

AR

NIN

G E

XP

ER

IE

NC

E &

ST

RA

TE

GIE

S

Wh

at

do

th

ey

ne

ed

to

be

ab

le t

o s

tate

or

art

icu

late

? -

ru

les

, d

efi

nit

ion

s t

he

ori

es

?W

ha

t u

nd

ers

tan

din

gs

, id

ea

s,

mo

de

ls?

Wh

at

fac

ts,

pro

ce

du

res

,

ex

am

ple

s,

sk

ills

do

th

ey

ne

ed

to

ma

ste

r?

Ho

w d

oe

s t

his

re

late

to

the

ir p

ers

on

al

liv

es

, w

ha

t

do

I w

an

t th

em

to

va

lue

?

Str

ate

gie

s that in

volv

e c

larify

ing, analy

sin

g, definin

g, debating, fo

rmula

ting, and

esta

blis

hin

g p

rocedure

s.

Str

ate

gie

s that evoke feelin

gs, develo

p a

ttitudes, and c

onnect w

ith s

tudents!

pers

onal sto

ry k

now

ledge. -s

haring, dis

cussin

g, experiencin

g, sensin

g, in

tuitin

g,

expre

ssin

g.

Str

ate

gie

s that in

volv

e e

xplo

ring, desig

nin

g, develo

pin

g m

odels

, findin

g p

attern

s,

repre

senting in im

age a

nd m

eta

phor.

Str

ate

gie

s that in

volv

e gath

ering info

rmation, fo

llow

iing r

ule

s, fo

llow

ing

pro

cedure

s -

consolid

ating facts

, develo

pin

g m

aste

ry o

f skill

s a

nd

pro

cedure

s

LE

AR

NIN

G O

UT

CO

ME

S I

N D

IF

FE

RE

NT

WA

YS

OF

KN

OW

IN

G

LE

AR

NIN

G O

UT

CO

ME

S I

N D

IF

FE

RE

NT

WA

YS

OF

KN

OW

IN

G

Page 23: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 22

References: Atkin, J.A. (1994) Thinking: Critical for Learning. Paper presented at the Fifth International

Conference on Thinking, July, 1992 in Edwards, J. (Ed) (1994) Thinking: International Interdisciplinary Perspectives Melbourne, Hawker Brownlow Education, 201-215

Atkin, J.A. (1994) How Students Learn: A Framework. for Effective Teaching: Part 2

Conditions which Enhance and Maximise Learning Seminar Series No. 34, Melbourne: IARTV

The papers listed above elaborate on these notes. They can be obtained in pdf form from http://www.learning-by-design.com Bagley, M.T. & Hess, K.K. (1982) 200 Ways of Using Imagery in the Classroom. Hawker

Brownlow Education, Melbourne. Barlex, D. and Carre, C. (1985) Visual Communication in Science, Cambridge, Cambridge

University Press. Bawden, R. (1989) 'Problem Based Learning: A Focus for the Quiet Revolution', Proceedings

of the Fourth Annual Conference of the Society for the provision of Education in Rural Australia, Launceston Tasmania, July, 1989.

Beare, H. (1989) 'The Need for a New Spirit', National Curriculum Issues 5. Imagining the

Australian Curriculum, Canberra, The Curriculum Development Centre. Bell, N. (1986) Visualizing and Verbalizing Paso Robles CA, Academy of Reading

Publications [Available through SPELD, 129 Greenwich Rd, Greenwich NSW Ph02-99062977 Fax 02 99065657]

Boomer, G. (Ed) (1982) Negotiating the Curriculum, Gosford, Ashton Scholastic Brandt, R. (Ed) (1990) 'Learning Styles & the Brain', Educational Leadership, 48, 2. Bronowski, J. (1956) 'The Creative Mind', Science and Human Values . Carter, Rita. (1998) Mapping the Mind London: Weidenfeld and Nicolcon Caine, G. & Caine, R. (1991) Making Connections: Teaching and the human brain,

Alexandria, Virginia, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Edwards, B (1979) Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, Los Angeles, J.P. Tarcher. Egan., K. (1986) Teaching as Story Telling: An alternative approach to teaching and

curriculum in the elementary school .Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.

Egan., K. (1992) Imagination in Teaching and Learning: The middle school years.

Chicago, The University of Chicago Press. Fanning, P.(1988) Visualization for Change. Oakland, New Harbinger. Gardner, H. (1983) Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. New York: Basic

Books.

Page 24: Knowing to the Power of Four · Knowing to the Power of Four K x K x K x K=K4 The Integral Learning Model Designed and presented by: ... other learning theorists and commentators

© Julia Atkin, 2008 23

Gardner, H. (1991) The Unschooled Mind: How children think and how schools should

teach New York: Basic Books. Herrmann, N. (1988) The Creative Brain , North Carolina, Brain Books. [Available from The Ned Herrmann Group, P.O. Box 383, Pymble NSW 2073 Ph 02 98802333 Fax 02

98802343] MacLean, P.D. (1978) "A Mind of Three Minds: Educating the Triune Brain." In The 77th Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education, Chicago: University of Chicago Press. McCarthy, M. (1991) Mastering the Information Age, Los Angeles, J.P.Tarcher. Neville, B. (1989) Educating Psyche Emotion, Imagination and the Unconscious in

Learning, Melbourne, Collins Dove Novak, J.D. & Gowin, D.B. (1984) Learning How to Learn, New York, Cambridge University

Press. Ornstein, R. (1986) Multimind: A new way of looking at human behaviour London,

Macmillan Ornstein, R. (1991) The Evolution of Consciousness New York, Prentice Hall Springer, S.P. and Deutsch, G. (1989) Left Brain, Right Brain, New York, W.H. Freeman. Stoessiger, R and Edmunds, J. (1993) The Natural Learning of Mathematics, Heineman Taylor, J. and Walford, R. (1979) Learning & the Simulation Game, Sydney, Holt, Rinehart &

Winston Williams, L.V. (1983) Teaching for the Two-Sided Mind, New York, Simon and Schuster. Zdenek, M. 1983. The Right-Brain Experience, London, Corgi.