REFLECTIVE ESSAY ON COMMON SENSE AND INTEGRATIVE THINKING
A lot of them old folks contend that what people needs is common-sense. While there are things that require learning from formal schooling, there are more practical ways of survival that calls only for common sense and not formal education. But what is common sense?
The Webster’s Dictionary defines common sense as, “sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training or the like.” It is also referred to as “normal native intelligence” like my folks contend.
COMMON SENSE HAS A LOT TO DO WITH INTUITION
Common sense has a lot to do with intuition. Intuition is an insight that comes from the unknown or insight that comes from learning (Tesolin, 2004). Lopez (2011) defines intuition in the similar manner. Intuition for him is the “intuitive use of judgment” where past experiences are foundations upon which a present or future problem is solved. Since each individual has different experiences, their use of common sense also differs.
Common sense hand in hand with intuition, aids in the ability of humans to survive. With common sense a person can anticipate and identify possible dangers. Aided by his past experiences, common sense nudges a person to use particular tools and materials appropriately and with good judgment. With common sense cause and effect relationships are also anticipated and predicted. (Lopez, 2011)
Is common sense intelligence? Is it inherent? Can it be taught? Is it learned?
COMMON SENSE IS NOT INTELLIGENCE
Common sense is not intelligence. Intelligence measures the algorithmic mind. The algorithmic mind is the logical mind that processes information and makes systematic decisions from the information at hand. Intelligent people use the algorithmic mind. Common sense however uses the reflective mind. The job of the reflective mind is seeing into the environment for what it is, setting goals that are realistic and making it a guide in everyday decisions. It is the reflective mind that is not used and tapped in schools. Unfortunately not all decision-making require logical reasoning. This is where the educational system fails. Common sense may be inherent. But it can be taught in schools. (Willingham, 2009)
INTEGRATIVE LEARNING USES THE PRINCIPLE OF CONNECTEDNESS
Schools do not teach common sense. That is the sentiment of my old folks. What schools teach is algorithmic reasoning. Algorithmic reasoning is logical and systematic thinking. Students who do well with this type of reasoning are labeled as intelligent because intelligence tests only measures algorithmic reasoning. Recent educational approaches however find weaknesses in the algorithmic principle of knowledge. Integrative approach to learning is now a popular approach in education.
Integrative learning is used in schools as a teaching strategy. This type of learning comes in a variety of ways such as putting and connecting together various knowledge and skills learned from a variety of sources and different experiences. Integrative learning also refers to the approach of utilizing and processing a variety and diversity of views even the contradictory ones and understanding them contextually. With integrative learning the individual applies his skills accumulated from his past and present into different settings. (Wikipedia, n.d.) Connectedness of life experiences over time and across all contexts is key to integrative learning (Rohen, n.d.).
KNOWLEDGE IS NOT FRAGMENTED
Learning and knowledge is not fragmented. The problem with schools is that knowledge is handed down piecemeal, per course, without facilitating the students’ ability to connect the dots together. Integrative learning is an approach that has long been used in the higher education with the goal of enhancing students’ abilities to connect all the learnings that they have accumulated over time, across all courses, in their schools, at home, in their personal lives and community lives. Integrative learning is ultimately aimed for the students to make a better and informed-judgments in all areas of their lives by developing a mind that is able to make connections. (Benson and Desdrow, 2009)
Integrative learning on the surface looks like it seems to work with the algorithmic mind. Intuitiveness clearly is lacking in this approach. Nevertheless as integrative learning focuses on connectedness, common sense and integrated learning are two compatible elements involved in most decision-making. Benson and Desdrow (2009) believe that “common sense can enrich integrative thinking” as for me the relationship vive versa, common sense enriches integrative thinking and integrative thinking enriches common sense.
REFERENCES:
Common Sense. Webster Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language. 1989. New York: Portland House.
Integrative Learning Project. [online] Available at:< http://gallery.carnegiefoundation.org/ilp/> [Accessed 3 June 2011].
Joy Benson, Sally Dresdow, (2009) “Common sense and integrative thinking”, Management Decision, Vol. 47 Iss: 3, pp.508 – 517. Abstract only. [online] Available at:< http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1780836&show=pdf> [Accessed 3 June 2011].
Lopez, G., 2011. The Mind of Glenn Lopez. What is common sense? Blog. [online] Available at:< http://www.curiousglenn.co.cc/2010/06/what-is-common-sense.html> [Accessed 3 June 2011].
Rohen, L. Teaching Methods: Integrative Learning. [online] Available at:< http://fod.msu.edu/oir/TeachingMethods/integrative-learning.asp> [Accessed 3 June 2011].
Tesolin, A., 2004. You Can Build an Intuitive Organization. [online] Available at:<http://www.lastminutetraining.ca/articles.php/Intuition-and-Innovation/You-Can-Build-An-Intuitive-Organization> [Accessed 3 June 2011].
Wikipedia, n.d. Integrative Learning. [online] Available at:< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrative_learning> [Accessed 3 June 2011].
Willingham, D., 2009. Can Common Sense Be Taught? Encyclopedia Britannica Blog. [online] Available at:< http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2009/05/can-common-sense-be-taught/> [Accessed 3 June 2011].
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