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Amerindian Approaches to Learning The American Indian philosophy of 'Coming-to-Knowing' At Ambios we are great believers in the power of learning by ‘seeing then doing’. Rather than relying on classroom-taught lessons to provide knowledge, as is principally used in most education in our society, we rather prefer the idea of allowing people to learn by observing and copying others. This is a method largely abandoned in teaching directed at older children and adults. Obviously the approach is not suited to some subjects that are taught, but in reality the learning topics to which the method can not be positively applied, at some level, are actually few. |
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through watching and doing is the philosophy around which the UK’s
National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) system is built. Learners begin
by working beside a person who is skilled in a task they want to acquire.
As self-confidence is gained, the learner can start to practice aspects of
the task themselves. When they are happy that they can perform the task
well, recognition of their skill is gained by simply asking an specialist at
the task to watch them do it and to confirm if they are competent.
There are parallels here with the way that traditional Native American cultures view education. Their philosophy says that you cannot ‘give’ a person knowledge in the way that a doctor gives a person an injection to improve their state of health. Rather, each person learns for themselves through the process of growing up in contact with nature and society, by observing and listening. In Amerindian society youngsters learn by being around while tasks are performed by others, not through any structured system of teaching and testing. Importantly, their abilities are not publicly questioned, as only after they have gained sufficient confidence do they attempt a task themselves – and this can be done in private or among a chosen group. Only having developed the necessary skills and confidence would they return to perform the task in public and receive approval. In this way, damaging dents to self esteem are avoided. Again we see an important parallel with the UK’s National Vocational Qualifications system. Candidates for NVQ qualifications watch and listen, develop self-confidence, perform their chosen task sufficient times (perhaps with some input from their teacher) before calling their Assessor to come and watch and clarify their competence at that task. For these reasons Ambios is deeply involved in the UK’s National Vocational Qualifications system of achievement. The Environmental Conservation NVQ forms the core of our involvement and is available via a number of organisations throughout the UK. Further information can be obtained from postmaster@ambios.co.ukAlthough it is not widely talked about, the process of learning through observation plays a key role in the workplace initially entered by graduates. Full of taught knowledge, but empty of basic skills on how to put it into practise, the experience gained by looking over the shoulders of their new colleagues is a critical phase in their transition from students to effective employees. The absence of this phase from the experience of many overseas students, who are educated in the ‘first’ world but return immediately to take up posts where they become the most senior and ‘experienced’ staff, may account for much of the ineffectiveness often found at managerial levels in the developing world. Ambios is involved in projects which are addressing this issue. Ambios philosophy on education has been inspired by conversations with professional educators and academics and the writings of F. David Peat in his book ‘Blackfoot Physics’ (Fourth Estate, London. ISBN 1-85702-456-7) |