Six Facets of Understanding
OK, so we're getting more concrete on what the authors understand as Understanding. Six facets are given, and my immediate reactions to them.
- Can explain
(As Einstein supposedly said, if you can' explain something in simple language, then you don't really understand it.)
As Einstein supposedly said, if you can't explain something in simple words, then you don't really understand it. This is a nice definition, but gives only one facet of understanding: I'm sure there are many things we understand intimately without being able to explain. Such as people like self-trained artists or musicians, who don't have theoretical language to explain their work and give reasons like, "I just kept painting until I was good at it." Or for example: who understands life in Japan more, a person studying the country in books or a kid that lives there?
All that said, being able to explain something in your own words IS evidence of understanding. So it is still useful to keep.
As Einstein supposedly said, if you can't explain something in simple words, then you don't really understand it. This is a nice definition, but gives only one facet of understanding: I'm sure there are many things we understand intimately without being able to explain. Such as people like self-trained artists or musicians, who don't have theoretical language to explain their work and give reasons like, "I just kept painting until I was good at it." Or for example: who understands life in Japan more, a person studying the country in books or a kid that lives there?
All that said, being able to explain something in your own words IS evidence of understanding. So it is still useful to keep.
- Can interpret
This is close to empathy, or at least, the end goal should be.
It's the reason that, once upon a time, I wanted to be a literature teacher. Narratives are vitally important, something inherent to the human species--we tell each other stories and remember them. We learn from them, whether we realise it or not. Everything is a narrative--the news, books, myths, etc. Every narrative reflects and perpetuates society--our perception of the world can be greatly altered by narratives! Being able to understand them--critique them--is vital, too.
This is close to empathy, or at least, the end goal should be.
It's the reason that, once upon a time, I wanted to be a literature teacher. Narratives are vitally important, something inherent to the human species--we tell each other stories and remember them. We learn from them, whether we realise it or not. Everything is a narrative--the news, books, myths, etc. Every narrative reflects and perpetuates society--our perception of the world can be greatly altered by narratives! Being able to understand them--critique them--is vital, too.
- Can Apply
This, to me, is an excellent sign of "understanding," better than being able to explain things. Knowing multiple uses for one tool (a mathematical formula, a reading skill, knowledge of a historical time period, an actual tool like a hammer or something) is a more useful, more complex grasp of it. It's info that you can use in multiple areas of life, not only to solve problems but to increase your understanding of something. (For example, some study into biology and medicine can give you a better understanding of what went down during the bubonic plague, for example.)
This, to me, is an excellent sign of "understanding," better than being able to explain things. Knowing multiple uses for one tool (a mathematical formula, a reading skill, knowledge of a historical time period, an actual tool like a hammer or something) is a more useful, more complex grasp of it. It's info that you can use in multiple areas of life, not only to solve problems but to increase your understanding of something. (For example, some study into biology and medicine can give you a better understanding of what went down during the bubonic plague, for example.)
- Have perspective
Know your own limits!!
It's easier to know your ideological limits once they are labeled by someone, so you can accept, reject, reconsider, or otherwise think about them. It also helps to know what other ideological paths people are labeling themselves with, especially if they're fanatical about it.
Of course you gotta critique those labels! Don't tell me "but don't align yourself to a label!" Heck, no. But knowing all the existing paths helps you think outside of them.
Know your own limits!!
It's easier to know your ideological limits once they are labeled by someone, so you can accept, reject, reconsider, or otherwise think about them. It also helps to know what other ideological paths people are labeling themselves with, especially if they're fanatical about it.
Of course you gotta critique those labels! Don't tell me "but don't align yourself to a label!" Heck, no. But knowing all the existing paths helps you think outside of them.
- Can empathize
I'm surprised this one's on here, to be frank. I'm glad it's on there, though. I enjoy that it's listed as a sign of intelligence. I come from a country/area where empathy is seen as some sort of intellectual or moral immaturity: just because something is sad doesn't mean it's not bad or worth it! Like slavery! And drone bombs! But I digress.
I think it's a bit revolutionary to say that empathy is a sign of intelligence, and it's completely congruent with the educational goals we keep saying we want: better-rounded, critical people!
I'm surprised this one's on here, to be frank. I'm glad it's on there, though. I enjoy that it's listed as a sign of intelligence. I come from a country/area where empathy is seen as some sort of intellectual or moral immaturity: just because something is sad doesn't mean it's not bad or worth it! Like slavery! And drone bombs! But I digress.
I think it's a bit revolutionary to say that empathy is a sign of intelligence, and it's completely congruent with the educational goals we keep saying we want: better-rounded, critical people!
- Have self-knowledge
Ana, I really liked the way you explain each facet, although I would have liked you talked more about self-knowledge. You always find a way to make concepts more personal. I think that is your way of showing understanding, explaining things in your own way. I also wanted to let you know that I share with you the same interest in literature and that I studied it for the same reason you did.
ReplyDeleteWhat I liked about the categories presented by Wiggins is that they let you think about specific learning outcomes or objectives and, even more, types of assessments that you can do with your students. They also presented abilities that are useful for your life, like being able to empathize. Regarding this type of understanding I truly believe that we need to work more on this, especially thinking about Chilean society. If schools taught children to empathize with others, we would discriminate less and people would be happier.