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How Learning Takes Place

Oral

Education consists of the information transfer model. Members of society:

• Employ apprentice/mentor or disciple/leader relationship to learn, studying with masters and imitating prominent leaders
• Learning activities consist of studying by listening, repeating, invoking proverbs, assimilating formulary materials, telling stories, and engaging in corporate retrospection with others in the group.

Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus in Gladiator

Example

Commodus: If you're very good, tomorrow night I'll tell you the story of emperor Claudius who was betrayed by those closest to him, by his own blood. They whispered in dark corners and went out late at night and conspired and conspired but the emperor Claudius knew they were up to something. He knew they were busy little bees. And one night he sat down with one of them and he looked at her and he said, "Tell me what you've been doing busy little bee or I shall strike down those dearest to you. You shall watch as I bathe in their blood." And the emperor was heartbroken. The little bee had wounded him more deeply than anyone else could ever have done. And what do you think happened then, Lucius?

Lucius Verus: I don't know, uncle.

Commodus: The little bee told him everything.

Literate

Education consists of the information transfer model until the critical thinking model arises - the practice of

• examining the thinking process carefully to clarify and improve understanding
• appraising alternative courses of action realistically
• discussing them in an organized way
• implementing one
• monitoring the result for effectiveness
• making changes until one achieves the desired outcome or changes the goal.

Example

See this page listing the elements of a healthy dialectic.

Exception: Primally-strong emotions trigger a default back to the oral mode.

Updated 3/12/09 . | English Dept. | SAC | Top