Discussion Commentary - Week 1

John Lyman
Aug 24, 2016 Aug 24 at 9:17am
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When we were discussing our favorite classes, I was quickly reminded on one of my favorite professors, teachers and mentors at Westminster. Tim Carr teaches teachers, and he has a very simplistic way of seeing and stating things. The class was Character Education, which...as a concept, not a procedure is something I spend a lot of time working on with my participants. One of his statements that resonates most with me is "All learning comes through incongruence." This influenced how I perceived our discussion last night. 

Education- The distance between incongruence and congruence.

Instruction- The guide between incongruence and congruence.

Technology- The vehicle between incongruence and congruence.

Design- The map between incongruence and congruence.

In the education field, STEM is the big boy these days. I feel that STEM has its place, though the S gets most of the focus. In my organization though, we prefer STEAM. You can use STEM to create the most magnificent smart phone known to man, but without the A (art), you don't have the iPhone. The design, the interface, the usability is what made it such a game changing device. 

I hope to take all of the experience I have in each of these fields and hone them over the next 1.5 years, so that I can better address all learning styles within the same platform. Ultimately, I'm looking for incongruence. 

• I love the that statement - incongruence toward congruence.  Also brilliant are the analogues: education = distance; instruction = guide; technology = vehicle; design = map.  Map in CS terms = algorithm, non? I also love the addition of Art to the STEM acronym.  I think that is similar to my necessitating appeal to an adoptable technology.  

• Agreed, Mikelle & John.  I think a big idea for us is that, while technology will never replace teachers - teachers who know how to use technology in an appealing & engaging way will replace teachers who cannot.