Responding to Barry Mallis in LO27611 --
Barry, respond to At de Lange, waxes enthusiastically about William Gordon
and "Synectics" to which I will add a quiet, "Amen."
Synectics is one of the basic and one of the great problem solving
methods. More important, it's an avenue to thinking. Gordon's theory ties
to a theory of learning that once bore the name "subsumption" (meaning
that in order to learn new things we had to somehow link them to things we
already understood, hence the importance of analogies and, in particular,
analogies that related what was being taught or presented or experienced
to what the learners already knew and -- guess what? -- in order for the
trainer/teacher to make those connections/links/analogies, he/she had to
get to know the learner(s). What a novel idea (Yes, I'm being cynical).
Whether subsumption theory currently has any standing is not important,
nor, for that matter, is synectics. What is important is for us all to
recognize that, as teachers/trainers, we have to get to know the learners
and help them make the connections that will facilitate their learning.
Thanks, Barry, for reminding about W.J.J. Gordon's "Synectics."
Fred Nickols
Senior Consultant
Distance Consulting
http://home.att.net/~nickols/distance.htm
nickols@att.net
--"Fred Nickols" <nickols@worldnet.att.net>
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