I have spent the better part of my adult life now trying to learn how to think better. I'm one of those who is hopelessly focused on emotions, which does have it's own rewards. As a writer, though, I'm constantly in search of the elusive pure thought. I came across this exerpt from David Foster Wallace's 2005 commencement address(Per Cheryl Kline's blog). I think it speaks to this struggle quite well:
"As I'm sure you guys know by now, it is extremely difficult to stay alert and attentive, instead of getting hypnotized by the constant monologue inside your own head. Twenty years after my own graduation, I have come gradually to understand that the liberal arts cliché about teaching you how to think is actually shorthand for a much deeper, more serious idea: learning how to think really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience. Because if you cannot exercise this kind of choice in adult life, you will be totally hosed.
1 comment:
This is so true!
I just had a conversation with a student who was able to talk about the difference between memorizing and deep learning. When she was expected to memorize and she forgot something, that was it. the info was gone.
If she applied deep learning to something, and then forgot a part of it, she was able to think through the process and find it again, or find another path to the forgotten item.
This young woman is one of my most reflective biology students, and I always feel more hopeful after I talk to her.
Thanks for your post that got me thinking about this today!
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