Radical mind change

Have begun to read Adam Unwin and John Yandell (2016) Rethinking Education: Whose knowledge is it anyway? (No-Nonsense Guides) 

“What is knowledge? Who decides what is important? Who owns it? These are central themes that run through this title that aims to change perceptions and understanding of education. Using historical and contemporary examples, the authors examine the motivations, conflicts, and contradictions in education. In breaking down the structures, forces, and technologies involved they show how alternative approaches can emerge.”

Is there anything totally new about education? I was well on top of the game for a while. But I have not kept up to date. But I once had a comprehensive concept map. I could give it some radical twists under the notion of ‘changing minds’. 

Changing your own mind – easy to say, tough to do

Changing the minds of others – inferiors, equals, superiors; juniors, peers, seniors. Different sexes, classes, races, religions, cultures and subcultures. Many stakeholders, many claims, concerns and issues.

I let the unconscious brainstorm the topic and then listed items alphabetically.

·         “Learning” from a brain science perspective

·         Attention

·         Awareness of enculturation – be still and know.

·         Be reasonable – do it my way

·         Brain Science

·         Cognitive dissonance then back to cognitive consonance – reshaping

·         Concentration

·          

·         Curriculum development

·         Evolutionary Psychology

·         Examinations and certification

·         Flow in the zone -  non-egoic – unconsciousness

·         Focus

·         How should the children learn?

·         Informal, non-formal, formal education

·          

·         KSA – knowledge, skills, attitudes

·         Learning styles and study skills

·         MBCT – Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy

·         MBSR - Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

·         Memory

·         Mind changes brain changes mind

·         Mindfulness

·          

·         Nature, nurture, serendipity

·         Neural plasticity

·         Neuroscience

·         Positive Psychology

·         Scanning

·         Scope, sequence and pace

·         Sleep and dreaming

·          

·         Teacher training -  initial and in-service

·         Teamwork

·         TFM – thoughts, feelings, moods

·         Think about thinking

·         Urge to conform and to reform – status quo v creativity

·         What should the children learn in school?