Hi Moodlers!
As you may well know, Moodle was founded to support a social constructivist theory of learning and teaching*. But how can social constructivism be such powerful and successful perspective?
Matthew D. Lieberman, cognitive psychologist at UCLA, shares some of his insights into why the social brain is central not only to learning but also to our well-being:
Enjoy!
*See: http://docs.moodle.org/27/en/Philosophy and http://docs.moodle.org/27/en/Pedagogy
Hmm ... could have been more useful if he actually talked about how the social brain is more central to learning.
I really think that he should go to Russia to help train scientists. First, it would very likely be a valuable social experience in other respects than the great deal of money. For instance it could help create more scientists who could research and talk more about how the social brain is more central to learning. Second, while his son will be 7 only once, this one time is going to last 365 days, until he turns 8. And so even before considering social media other than the brain, and its contribution to social connections both inside and outside the brain, Mr. Lieberman can safely go to Russia for 4 months and still be with his son for the most part of his age 7. May be that's a point about social balance which is also quite important for well-being.
Matt-as ever interesting post.
Itamar-logic prevails eh.
I suppose, the key message is a take on morality-based on being a neuroscientist...OK.
now I tried to include this earlier but failed-one more time.....this whole thing about being a successful leader-from what I understand, tis the first follower that is important....
not my find-that of a colleague of mine. Superb!
D
As a take on morality this ad seems to have been produced by the leaders association at it subtly puts the blame for all the evil caused by leaders throughout history on the followers, and especially on the first follower. But on a closer scrutiny it is unsuccessful. You see, the first follower is in effect the leader of all subsequent followers by virtue of leading them to following. And so the first follower is entitled to be a member of the leaders association. The next follower has the exact same effect on all subsequent followers, and in that sense is also a leader. And so on. Logic prevails ... with all its fallacies.
According to social constructivists, everything we learn: our language, empirical knowledge, our sense of aesthetics, etc., in other words "culture" is learned through social interaction. First, we experience it in our environment and through our interactions with our caregivers, then we adopt it/align ourselves with it/ harmonise ourselves with it and it becomes a part of who we are.
Lieberman isn't telling us anything particularly new here, although in his book he writes about some fascinating and counter-intuitive discoveries and some of the brain areas associated with the drivers of these processes.
I'm sure for some, going off to Russia would be a great adventure. I can empathise with Lieberman's priorities; the psychological harm that absentee parents do to their children is real and significant. I've seen it for myself from over-ambitious, career-driven members of my family and the effects on their children.