Did curiosity kill the cat?
In my first blog post for this course, I see it only fit to reference my favorite blog on education: Math With Bad Drawings by Ben Orlin. (I expect I will reference it a number of times in this course.)
Unfortunate Metaphors for Teaching
If our current educational system is dry food, connected learning proposes to be cat nip.
Connected learning, as I understand from the videos we watched in class, is characterized by a deep curiosity that is encouraged and explored in the classroom, in discussions with friends and mentors, and in free time on the internet and in books.
Learning driven by curiosity can be addictive. In fact, it can drive us wild. It led me to read about the Estevez/Sheen family tree while watching West Wing last week. It led me to take a math class that was way over my head last semester. It’s also what has driven me to this point in my education and it continues to lead me on my path toward a career in academia.
I hope that most of us graduate students have felt this curiosity at some point. I hope that we can improve our educational systems to emphasize curiosity and connection. I hope that we as teachers can put away the dry food and find the cat nip.
How do we engage that curiosity? When was a time when you experienced unbridled curiosity? What helped it and/or killed it?
