Cognitive media

"This website is designed to show what Cognitive Media does rather than to explain the purpose behind our actions. A downloadable PDF will be available shortly to explore the theory of why and how we do what we do."

Creatives wanted

I´ve published this on the Cultura Inglesa Teacher´s Portal, replying to Guilherme Pacheco´s editorial of this Month. Guilherme works at the Teacher Training Division.
I think it was worth it sharing my post:

Hello Guilherme!

One of the possible answers to the question you raised: "How can we help these children to foster their imaginative growth?" crossed my mind last week.

Last Tuesday, I had my first LANGUAGE STUDIES I lesson at PUC, with professor Regina Lucia Montedonio Borges. During the lesson, among other things, we discussed What is Linguistics, what is language and What is Grammar. After studying the plethora of information in all the texts we are supposed to read before next lesson, two quotations called my attention:

"When we study human language, we are approaching what some might call the "human essence", the distinctive qualities of mind that are, so far as we know, unique to man." Noam Chomsky, Language and Mind

"I feel very strongly about change. As teachers we must believe in change, must know it is possible, or we wouldn´t be teaching - because education is a constant process of change. Every single time you "teach" something to someone, it is ingested, something is done with it, and a new human being emerges. I can´t understand why people aren´t dying to learn, why it isn´t the greatest adventure in the world - because it´s the process of becoming. Every time we learn something new, we become something new." (Living, Loving and Learning - Leo F. Buscaglia)

There are two crucial movements to think creatively: the divergence - to amplify perspectives, to make different associations, to resort to new concepts - and the convergence - the focus on the practical ways to apply new things. The less creative ones resort to common answers. Whereas, the more creative ones, dare with alternative answers, which are not always aproved by the majority. The creative mind sees similarities where others only see differences. The good news is that we can change our behaviour pattern.

Some ways to give room for the creativity is: look for analogies, let the mind lose itself in its thoughts and look for new experiences.Studying always helps, because it amplifies the choices of information that we can recombine."Creativity has more to do with the way you absorve and connect information than with gift." Says the adman with a Major in History Flávio Cordeiro, quoted in an article published in Época magazine: "Creatives Wanted".(Revista Época 2 Agosto 2010 Nº 637).

What I mean is: teachers must be as curious as the children they teach. Why do we partialy lose this intrinsic curiosity and lust for life that children have? This is something we should hold dear for the rest of our lives, to become better persons, therefore, better teachers.

Conformity

“Conformity is the process by which an individual’s attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are conditioned by what is conceived to be what other people might perceive. This influence occurs in both small groups and society as a whole, and it may be the result of subtle unconscious influences, or direct and overt social pressure. Conformity also occurs by the “implied presence” of others, or when other people are not actually present. For example, people tend to follow the norms of society when eating or watching television, even when they are at home by themselves.

People often conform from a desire to achieve a sense of security within a group—typically a group that is of a similar age, culture, religion, or educational status. Any unwillingness to conform carries with it the very real risk of social rejection. In this respect, conformity can be seen as a safe means of avoiding bullying or deflecting criticism from peers. Conformity is often associated with adolescence and youth culture, but it affects humans of all ages.

Although peer pressure may be viewed as a negative trait, conformity can have either good or bad effects depending on the situation. Driving safely on the correct side of the road is a beneficial example of conformity. Conformity influences the formation and maintenance of social norms and allows society to function smoothly and predictably.

Because conformity is a group phenomenon, such factors as group size, unanimity, cohesion, status, prior commitment, and public opinion all help to determine the level of conformity an individual will display.[1]”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformity

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I wanted to share this, because I´m unable or unwilling to conform to normal standards of social behavior. I want more. I want to innovate, I want to create, I want to expand myself. I want to be global. I want to discover, I want to write a book. I´m an explorer. I have a lust for life. I´m a teacher! :D

By Maíra Matos