Submitted by John Bransford (not verified) on April 18, 2008 - 07:30.
The writer did a wonderful job on these articles. In the one about work at UW entitled "forget the facts", I hope people interpret "forget the facts" as tongue in cheek. Research in the learning sciences shows that people need rich bodies of connected knowledge as a foundation for thinking and new learning. I think the writer meant to convey that having foundational knowledge of various disciplines is not the same as knowing all the specific and often-changing facts connected with those disciplines. In a fast changing world, foundational knowledge allows us to ask the right kinds of questions and do the relevant inquiry that enable us to find the newest facts (e.g. about genetics, ecosystems, etc.).
The preparation for future learning assessments are design to see how prepared people are to continue to learn throughout their lifetimes. The ability to continue to learn is in no way "knowledge free". It requires a deep understanding of disciplines so that the right questions can be asked and new knowledge can be found.
Forget the Facts, Can You Learn?
Submitted by John Bransford (not verified) on April 18, 2008 - 07:30.
The writer did a wonderful job on these articles. In the one about work at UW entitled "forget the facts", I hope people interpret "forget the facts" as tongue in cheek. Research in the learning sciences shows that people need rich bodies of connected knowledge as a foundation for thinking and new learning. I think the writer meant to convey that having foundational knowledge of various disciplines is not the same as knowing all the specific and often-changing facts connected with those disciplines. In a fast changing world, foundational knowledge allows us to ask the right kinds of questions and do the relevant inquiry that enable us to find the newest facts (e.g. about genetics, ecosystems, etc.).
The preparation for future learning assessments are design to see how prepared people are to continue to learn throughout their lifetimes. The ability to continue to learn is in no way "knowledge free". It requires a deep understanding of disciplines so that the right questions can be asked and new knowledge can be found.