Knocking brain series
The Pedagogy of the Mind
What sticks makes you stronger — at least mentally stronger
…We have sent among you an Apostle from among you who recites to you Our communications and purifies you and teaches you the Book and the wisdom and teaches you that which you did not know. – AlBaqara,151.
Looking at the clock, it’s 10 pm, and I am still sitting in front of my laptop, trying to finish reviewing one of my students’ work. She sent me her writings a few days ago, and I only had the time to really sit down and ‘devour’ it tonight.
It was a hectic day. Like any other day. The day opened with few meetings with various stakeholders for few programmes that are being developed or further refined, as part of our effort to making sure that the educational programmes offered benefit the students in the long run. ‘Future-proofing’ the programmes they say. I’d say — adding newer things to the courses so that they stay relevant for few more years.
The smell of fresh, cool breeze air swept my face as I walked out of the meeting room. Still drizzling, the rain poured down circa 10 am, adding to the fine mix of mental fatigue and deadline anxiety. The number of messages left on the phone far exceeded the number of missed calls, a sign that I am still relevant, but not yet important.
The new campus in Tanjong Malim can get really hot during the day, and any amount of downpour is very much welcomed. Today was that kind of a day that, the combination of cold breeze, and the worries of planning classroom activities for the coming semester seemed well-balanced, and for this, smiling and niceties became affordable, again. Greetings were shared to all who passed by — fellow friends, fellow rivals. A salam for the janitor, a ‘Hi! How are you doing?’ for that person who always sits on the bench, outside the faculty general office.
Entered a classroom. 25 students, some eagerly waiting to be fed with mental juices. Looking at their faces, I could tell where their minds were at that point in time. The front-liners were present as always, a few in the middle gone missing probably looking back at the reason why they were there in the first place, and few other backbenchers were still snoring away. So, where was I? What did I leave them with previously? Ah yes. Pedagogies.
Teaching (and that of learning) has its roots dated as long as man can remember. This educational dichotomy places consciousness at the epicentre of everything. Even if there are multiple modes of learning i.e. formal learning, informal learning, and non-formal learning, the main tenet of an educational experience is for one to be conscious of what it is that they get out of the experiences. At least, that’s what the mainstream educationists are trying to do.
I’m afraid that I am not really familiar with literatures on subliminal or subconscious learning, if there is such a thing. The idea of being aware of one's own learning is more appealing to me, rather than out of a sudden to discover that I can sew a Kurta without learning how to do it (p/s: I did sew a Kurta myself for Raya in 2017, but I relied heavily on few YouTube video tutorials — that experience begs another Medium article).
Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself — John Dewey
When we put consciousness as the central vehicle of knowledge consumption, it links to a few other concepts i.e. intention & attention. Knowledge becomes meaningful when it is useful, as we put value to those knowledge. Have you ever come across a situation where you wonder, what’s the use of those ilm (knowledge) that you have learned in schools, and during your university years? Why only some ilm managed to stick to your brain, and others slipped away? It’s because of your perception of usability of those knowledge at the time when it was learned. The more it is perceived as connected, applicable to life, the higher it ranks in our mind.
This is the sole reason, why we need to attune our educational experience to suit students’ needs. This is why almost all Instructional System Design (ISD) be it ADDIE, or ASSURE, starts with ‘analysis’ or ‘analyse learners’. Understanding our students opens the door to a more meaningful engagement. It is with the understanding of human that we get to knock on their mental doors.
Knock, knock,
Who’s there?
Knowledge.
Knowledge who?
Knowledge that you will carry for the rest of your life, and be used for greater things, to bring benefit to your family, ummah, and others.
Class, dismissed :)
