Peter E. Pflaum - Golden Globe - The Synergy Network
http://www.wiredbrain.net/  pflaump@wiredbrain.com

      WEEK 3: RUTS & CREATIVITY:
      
      
      
           CREATIVITY: You and others.  
                         Perceptions are associated with STYLES.
                    What you see depends on your experience and
feelings.
               Different people see the same things in different
ways.
               They experience the world in distinctive ways.
These habits have been learned. The idea is to increase awareness
of "rut" or habits and begin to break out so that you can
understand yourself and others.  
Journal: Tell stories using articles from newspaper, experience
outside of class - movies, T.V., other books and reading in other
classes. Give real work examples of "rut" and habits, taste and
traditions. What have you found out about yourself and others.
Can you use the information is being more effective in getting
and giving information.  
     Journal review of perceptions. How is what you see
influenced by culture and training. What impact does
visualization have upon problem solving?  
WEEK 3: RUTS- CREATIVITY
Sociology Chapter 3 (Japan and Information AGAIN on week 7) and   
      4 Culture Korea Society
Social Science CHAPTER 1 (AGAIN from week 1) Chapter 3 Life in
Groups    Men and stress. 

     Humans become human by training. People learn their role and
"how to behave" from the social system - families, schools,
churches and other institutions.  This is tradition, folkways,
customs, morals, totem and taboo. Gemeinshafts are small village
and clan systems where people are individuals within a
semi-closed society. Gesellschafts are complex modern societies
which become impersonal. People become roles and function, rules
are semi-rational and technical, and there is more competition,
exchange and conflict.  
     Information processing - setting goals and objectives
(sub-goals) - knowing where to find information; ordering the
vast amounts of data (good, poor, and terrible) into a useful
system, looking for alternatives, and making choices based on
facts and reasoned risks is the critical survival skills of today
and tomorrow. We start with creativity because first we have to
look out side the ruts we are all in.  Social systems and
traditions are both guides and ruts. If you are lost its
sometimes a good idea to follow in the ruts of others and hope
they know where they are going - but sometimes its a good idea to
look up and set your own goals based on your own vision.  
     First we need to pay attention. Open our eyes! What is going
on here? What do we do when we don't know what to do?  See # 10
Being Human 

THINKING

     The class is designed to improve thinking skills. The way
students learn these skills is by making connections between the
chapter and the activity.  Then in their journals they can make
the relationship to their lives in the real world. Often,
students say in their journals that they do not see the
connections. In the same group others have excellent ideas about
what are the relationships.  Why don't they talk to each other? 
     I try to explain the connections but some just don't get it. 
The groups need to talk, because someone will have a great idea.
Learning is a process where the group shares ideas. This is not
done enough in school. People have little experience in working
in groups and really talking to each other.  When people get
practice in thinking and sharing ideas, it can take off.
Therefore, the group practice in finding connections is central
to the whole class.  If the teacher just tells you something it
doesn't seem to stick - it doesn't register as a really useful
idea.  If you and your group come up with ideas they are
meaningful to you and they work for you in your life. It makes a
much stronger impression. 
     Groups can reward new ideas and support creative thinking.
Group process can be very rewarding.  The workbook requires
students to make connections between the chapter in the textbook,
and activity and their daily lives.  Problem solving skills can
be learned in practice. The technique of making connections
between ideas that on the surface seem different is the heart of
the creative process.  The old type schools trained people for
the "X" type factory. This education is out of sink with the new
world of work. Cooperative learning in groups is the way of the
future. Local employers require skills in thinking and group
process.  The new world order and "information age" technology
requires thinking by most workers. Business must have workers
that can work in groups to increase quality, productivity and
control costs. The old "X" factory schools are harmful to the
skills of students in thinking skills. Remember, the key process
is in making connection. You will practice solving problems in a
group. This is a very valuable skill in today's job market.       
                           The study of social science should
include "social Laws". These laws regulate most societies. 
"Common sense" and universal human "nature" and experience
demonstrate certain principles.  Order and progress in society
requires a balance of individuals, families, larger groups into a
whole culture. Symbols and rules to provide a basic structure for
human behavior.  This behavior must be learned. Proper behavior
requires judgment.  The rules of society cannot be "proven" but
are the most likely understanding of the range of observations
and facts. There are rules that almost all societies have
followed and there is an objective reality to collective human
behavior.  In the natural sciences there is a universal
understanding of reality that is independent of the observer.
Such abstract understanding is difficult in human affairs.  The
survival and growth of civilization have left us a knowledge of
"social laws." There is a clear reason for teaching social laws.