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Unlocking the right brain: The magic of metaphor, creativity, and compassion

Unlocking the right brain: The magic of metaphor, creativity, and compassion

To my mind, one of the most paradigm-changing statements of the 20th century was from Nobel laureate and neuroscientist Roger Sperry: There appears to be two modes of thinking, verbal and nonverbal, represented separately in left and right hemispheres, respectively. Our educational system, and science in general, tends to neglect the nonverbal form of intellect….

Teaching and learning are deep, rich, beautiful, and life-giving.

Teaching and learning are deep, rich, beautiful, and life-giving.

The word aesthetics comes from the Greek word “aisthenesthai” which is the “ability to perceive.” I’ve always had a strong desire to explore teaching and learning as deep, rich, and aesthetic processes. Beautiful, life-giving, and creative rather than dry, boring, and joyless. Both teaching and learning require courage, an open heart, and the willingness to…

We grow when we have access to a larger frame of reference
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We grow when we have access to a larger frame of reference

I once wrote an article with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi about how curiosity and exploration are fundamental to learning. Museums spark learning by capturing our curiosity with objects and ideas that seem foreign or mysterious. This leads to what he called the “flow state,” where learning feels effortless and intrinsically rewarding because it engages our full attention….

Greater wisdom comes through when we admit we don’t know 

Greater wisdom comes through when we admit we don’t know 

My love for teaching began when I realized that I could be a learner when I teach. And in fact, I was a better teacher when I held that position. It’s amazing how greater wisdom comes through when we admit we don’t know and stop trying to figure it out. The first time I do…

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