Comments on: Experts vs. Collective Intelligence

By: Akkam’s Razor

Akkam’s Razor — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 13:08:53 +0000

[...] Weblogg-ed » Experts vs. Collective Intelligence “We cannot know everything. Today, knowledge has no bounds. Truth is in flux, and this requires a network, a community to make sense of it.” (tags: education Expert) [...]

By: Lisa Chamberlin, M.Ed

Lisa Chamberlin, M.Ed — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 03:09:08 +0000

Collective Intelligence, while giving me a brief moment of “Borg Hive Theory” chuckles (you shall be assimilated), actually sounds like it would tie quite nicely into constructivist theory and socratic teaching. Neither makes the instructor superfluous, nor do they make direct teaching obsolete. A foundation of fact must be presented (whether by lecture or reading), and then the students can be freed to create their meaning with open-ended questioning, bringing in of their own examples, supporting through text, etc. The instructor continues as a coach/facilitator to keep the discussion topic oriented, or in the case of simulations, heading toward a student-evolved solution.

In any case, it is the collective intelligence of the group that arrives at the ultimate meaning of the lecture/simulation/activity – not a one dimensional definition from the instructor.

By: Weekly Roundup (3 September 2006) - 1 - Theory at teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk

Weekly Roundup (3 September 2006) - 1 - Theory at teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:37:08 +0000

[...] Will Richardson – Experts vs. Collective Intelligence [...]

By: Rob Banning

Rob Banning — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 16:31:47 +0000

Laura makes a great point. Kids often complain if a teacher does not provide enough rules or structure. I believe that the reason for this desire for rules is that in a more structured class, students don't need to think for themselves. They just need to remember the "correct" answers provided by the teacher. I applaud Laura and teachers like her that provide a learning environment that fosters (and requires) independent thinking. More on promoting innovation in the classroom.

By: Teach42 - Education and Technology, by Steve Dembo » The expert’s toolbox

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 16:01:52 +0000

[...] Will shared a great post yesterday about the changing definition of the word ‘expert’ and how collective intelligence fits into it all. [...]

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 12:52:39 +0000

Great resource! Thanks for blogging your reading of this. As I get ready to step into the classroom again, I am at that odd threshold before the class begins of thinking about rules. Interestingly, what I’ve found is that students, too, want those rules. They’ve had them for 12 years. Why give them up now? So the struggle I have is to set down some bare bones guidelines–a reading list with a rough schedule, a rough schedule of assignments, requirements for blog participation–but then allow for enough freedom for all of it to change and to allow the class to flow the ways it’s going to flow and let it determine some of the guidelines. This really disturbs some students and of all things, my class this year is about learning, about what it means to learn, to know something, to experience education. So while, you may see the struggle with teachers, I think there’s also a struggle on the part of the students.

By: Tom Hoffman

Tom Hoffman — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 23:58:27 +0000

Isn't this all just circular, though, at least in reference to your experiences arriving at schools as an expert in the obsolescence of expertise? I mean, isn't the conclusion that your new role is obselete? Shouldn't schools be spending their money on lesson study and critical friends groups instead of bringing people like you in for a hit and run workshop?