We have shown that the psyche is distinct and that what we call MIND is in fact the the psyche functioning with the cognitive mechanisms of manam , buddhi, ahangkaaram and siththam ( I have not still coined appropriate English terms for these concepts) .
We also saw a similarity between Piaget and what has been discovered through ACCESS TESTING, that cognitive development consists in the progressive use these mental mechanisms in that order. We also saw that there are biological as well as psychological factors that can impede the progressive use of these mental mechanisms. While as educationist we can't do much about the biological factors that underlies mental retardation and so forth, certainly we can do something both as parents and teachers to remedy and if possible avoid the psychological wounding that may discourage the child with engaging itself with these cognitive tools and thus impede learning as such.
Now we shall take up the issue of ACCELERATING the cognitive development and see what can be done about it.
It must be recalled here that Piaget did not condone such studies for he thought that cognitive development is maturational and hence biological. The various stages of development are the SAME throughout the world no matter what the cultural, ethnic and other differences.
However we should note here that while the stages of development may be the same, the AGES of ONSET vary widely with culturally impoverished children recording late ages. The acceleration studies are concerned with lowering the ages of onset so that a child becomes as quickly as possible Formal Operational in thinking or in terms of Agamic Psychology, a user of the mental mechanism of Siththam.
A child can graduate from the stage of sensory operations i.e. the use of manam when only its' functioning is not impoverished and it is exercised maximally so that cognitive conflicts of various kinds surface in the understanding of the child. The Buddhi emerges only when contradictions are seen as contradictions and at this early stage it is concerned with invarience concepts. The manam -child does not see a contradiction when 5 sticks put together is more when spread apart. The child cannot tear itself and ISOLATE mentally the quantity as distinct from the appearances. Thus such sensorial inputs where invarience has to be noted must be dished out for the child to experience and through that FORCED to reflect upon the contradictions.
ஐம்புல நுகர்ச்சிக்கு ஆவனசெய்க பாலர்
பொறிபுல வறிவேப்போற் றுவர்
aimpula nukarccikku aavan ceyka paalar
poRipula vaRiveeppOR Ruvar
The educational activities and the gentle question of the child must be such that, sensorial experiences result in contradictions related to invarience concepts and the child is make to NOTE them and REFLECT on them. Unless the child is made to reflect on his OWN, the Buddhi that lies beneath still unmanifest, will not be forced out to be active an element of the mind of the child.
Another, also central in child-centered education is that, a child must be allowed to face these contradictions within himself and encouraged to struggle to solve them. There must be maximum freedom given to the child to ACT ON HIS OWN and through that face contradictions of this sort in his sensorial commerce.
தான்செய்து தானறிந்து தனையேத் தானறிய
பானறிவு வழியேநற் பயிர்ப்பு
thaanceythu thaanaRiwthu thanaiyeeth thaanaRiya
paanaRivu vaziyeenaR payirppu
This is also important in conjunction with activating ahangkaaram, the self awareness producing mechanism that emerges mainly in social conflicts with siblings and friends. However when the child is allowed to ACT on his OWN, he begins to see himself as agent who through acts of various kinds can bring about CHANGES in the physical and social environment that would satisfy his needs.
Success and failures in the actions of self brings about self awareness.
When Buddhi is maximally activated and the fantasies are enjoyed immensely, only then the need to be REALISTIC in thinking will emerge and along with it the functioning of Siththam, that which underlies the birth of thinking reasoning etc. But how to activate the Buddhi so that the need to go beyond emerges from within?
It is here that Play, Music, Dance, Fables and such other stories play a significant role.
ஆடலொடு பாடல்கள் அதிசயக் கதைகள்
ஆர்வமூக்கி அறிவினைப் பெருக்கும்
aadalodu paadalkaL athidsayak kathaikaL
aarvamuukki aRivinaip perukkum
இசையின் மயங்கி இன்பங்காண் குழந்தைக்கு
இசைவழி எளிதாம் பாடம்
isayin mayangki inbangkaaN kuzanthaikku
isaivazi eLithaam paadam
Play, music and dance along with fabulous stories fires the imagination and allows the active exercise of Buddhi and hence the immense interest the children around the age of 4 and thereabouts show towards them. This must be maximally allowed so that there is a vast repertoire of such imaginative stuff in the mind of the child and which will be gradually be realized as UNREALISTIC and hence cannot serve the PRACTICAL ends.
It is at this point that practical tasks that demand REASONING for attaining SUCCESS must be introduced in concrete forms. For example a task such as building a house with wooden blocks requires REASONING, what to put first and what not , a sequential order in building up etc . There must be a lot of such PRACTICAL activities in which a child is allowed to fail and at the same time encouraged to try again and again till success is attained.
எடுத்தது முடிக்கும் இயல்பினை குழந்தைகட்கு
இளமையிற் புகுத்தல் ஏற்றம்
eduththathu mudikkum iyalbinai kuzanthaikadku
iLamaiyiR pukuththal eeRRam
The focus at this stage of development must be the strengthening of the WILL to succeed, a desire to taste SUCCESS in whatever one undertakes to accomplish. The educational environment at home and school must be achievement oriented in tasks that demand thinking and reasoning to succeed.
Once a child reasons out concretely in such tasks the transition to become ABSTRACT in thinking will be quick and natural.
Dr Loganathan Krishnan @ Ullaganar
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