The three pieces by Dweck, Perkins, and Ritchhart are very thought provoking. All the theories have valid points and can apply to all of us. We can now begin to think and act differently in all situations with Dweck's different types of knowledge, Perkins's theories on intelligence and goals, and Ritchhart's view on intellectual character. I believe that Dweck and Perkins most easily coincide together to support Ritchhart's theories. Proactive knowlege and learning goals will most likely lead to being an the best intellectual character you can be. Although, these are also the most difficult to achieve.
Intellectuality cannot be taught. It is not sufficiently explained in textbooks, professors, or even philosophers. Someone's own intellectual charcter is just that- their own. It must come through experience and learning all different aspects of the world.
From a personal standpoint, I believe that the education that I have had thus far in my life has encouraged this type of character as best as it can. I have studied topics from freshman literature to argumentation and debate to advanced calculus. It is clear that many of us have studied a broad spectrum of ideas and topics. However, I am almost certain that no one has ever seen a class on the basis of how to be a better person or a class dedicated in intellectual personalities. This is because I believe it is all a package deal.
In any class you take, the mind is always processing information. In many cases, the information is new and hard to comprehend, and the mind forces you to cope and find a way to understand. This builds character- whether it be intellectual character or not, thats for the future to decide. I learned at one point in my education how to implicitly differentiate a quadratic formula. I can't say that I could easily do that again within a few seconds as I could before or that I will ever need to after four years, but I can say that my mind is now trainied to do complicated work and stretch itself. Sure, intellectuality isn't all about mental capacity, it is about being curious as well. And I think that if we have already be trained in school to stretch our minds, then our brain is figuratively bigger and open for new information.
So, no, intellectual character is not and can not be directly taught in a classroom, or anywhere. It simply creeeps up on you without making a sound, hoping for you to take advantage of it.
1 comment:
I'll grant that all learning comes from experiences, but given that students spend so much time in classroom, they are experiencing a good deal there. You are spending a good deal of time experiencing things in college and the experience you have is an experience that is shaped and can be changed by the behavior of, among others, your teachers. As such, what sort of experiences, in and out of the classroom, that can be altered by those in power (teachers, those who decide where you live, who your roommate is, your RA, etc.) should be facilitated in order to cultivate dispositions that Ritchhart suggests instead of their opposite.
Post a Comment