I've read all of A Whole New Mind now and I feel like I learned quite a bit (and writing this blog helped, too -- there really is something to how writing can help improve one's thinking and learning). It also occurs to me that Pink's title refers to having a whole mind as well as a new mind. But I wonder how much my mind has changed as a result of reading the book, if at all?
Pink proposes that, to prepare ourselves for the incoming Conceptual Age, we need to further develop six essential abilities. These abilities are Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning, upon which Pink elaborates in separate chapters. At the end of each of the chapters, Pink has compiled a Portfolio which includes a variety of resources to assist the reader in growing the attributes described. To really grow my own whole new mind I need to go back in and use the book as a workbook, working deliberately through these Portfolios.
Or is that the way an old mind would do it? like an old school student studying for a test? The only test is whether I can combine these attributes to enhance my own life and thereby be of greater service to the planet. What is the next step for us who have read this book? What is the take away for us as we think about enhancing the learning of the youth in our care as well as our own learning?
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2 comments:
Jen,
Just finished this book myself, and I also am looking for ways to incorporate the concepts into daily life. These ideas definitely have me thinking about how to broaden my definitions of arts education to more actively demonstrate / explain how art is part of daily life, not just another compartmentalized subject area. I want to help my students live creatively, see and create good design, tell the story in multiple ways, pull it all together, have fun with it all and ultimately create something meaningful to themselves and others. I think it's great your school (district?) is reading the book and can use it to spark discussion and ultimately change.
Sarah, Thanks for your comment and thoughts. I welcome further discussion on this topic here although my topics may change...Pink's book challenges us to re-think how we educate our youth-- and ourselves - as you say. This is a somewhat daunting task since our institutions are so, well, institutionalized! Our administrative team has read and discussed the book. As I said in my post, making concrete changes to align with this thinking is difficult. Perhaps Ghandi offers us advice as to where to begin: "Be the change you want to see in the world."
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