Subject: Systems thinking for preschoolers

Posted by Bill Rathborne on 12/11/2008
In Reply To:Systems thinking for preschoolers Posted by Niall Palfreyman on 12/11/2008

Message:

However, Robert Ornstein and Paul Ehrlich argue in, "New World, New
Mind: Moving Toward Conscious Evolution", that we should not assume a "fixed" capability and that, "The most important place, we believe, the road to new-mindedness should start is in the early grades of educational systems." Given some of the new information on neuroplacticity maybe the assumption needs to be that these ankle- biters and younger, can in fact absorb and incorporate some "SD"
concepts.

Ornstein and Ehrlich think we need to deliberately "evolve" human consciousness to deal with the modern world and to overcome the significant shortcomings in brains that evolved in a pre-industrial world and that starting as early as possible with the "malleable"
young brain is likely to be more effective and successful.

As a strong believer in the educational power of osmosis, I would think that casual, probably ubiquitous graphic/visual, materials (school & home) in the everyday sight of young children would result in a much easier transition to introducing more sophisticated concepts in school.

Bill