I have often read about the importance of learning something new to keep our brains in good working condition .
However , we learn faster and more efficiently if the new information and ideas can be related to previously learned concepts . We call this connecting the dots . When we try something new , successful people look at what they already know and then expand on their skills .
I attended my impromptu high school reunion at Dunvegan , north of my hometown of Rycroft , last summer . One of my friends , Harvey , mentioned how he loved studying trigonometry in high school . When Harvey retired , he wanted more quality time with his family and friends . To accomplish this goal , he built a small cottage in his backyard where friends and family could gather . When his wife requested bay windows , his mind went back to the concepts he learned in his high school trigonometry course , and he used these to make the correct measurements to complete the task . He connected the dots between what he wanted to accomplish in retirement to the concepts he had learned as a high school student .
After this conversation , we started talking about our high school teachers , especially our math teacher . After every test , she would redo the seating plan according to our grades , with the student with the lowest mark on that test in the front row and the student with the highest one in the back row . I remembered that , on the first test , I had confused some of the trig functions . For a very long two-week period , I was forced to sit in the front row , sneaking looks at my friends in the back , feeling dejected and embarrassed .
On the second test , I got one of the highest marks and was moved to the back . At the same time , I was accused of cheating , even though my peers tried to convince the teacher I was one of the top students . As I consistently got high marks , our teacher finally backed off on her accusations and I was allowed to remain in the back row . When I became a high school math teacher , I connected the dots between this method of instruction and how it made me feel , so of course , I never used this method in my classroom . Instead , I joined the Alberta Assessment Consortium and looked for innovative ways for my students to learn while maintaining their dignity .
Too often , when we are suffering , we try to reduce our symptoms in the hopes of receiving a cure . I read about a retired teacher who had a traumatic experience involving her father . When she was older , she found herself slipping into depression . After a session with her doctor , she began a regimen of antidepressants . They did not , however , seem to help . She finally went to a counsellor , hoping to talk about her relationship with her father and resolve her depression . She was shocked to discover that her true source of anger was instead toward her mother . Her mother was supposed to be her protector but was not there when she needed her . Once she realized the true source of her anger , she was able to resolve it and , as a result , her depression subsided . Connecting the dots with the help of a counsellor enabled her to move forward with her life .
Another retired teacher felt exhausted every day , even though her medical test results indicated that she was fine . She listened to some health podcasts and was encouraged to look at her lifestyle . She realized that , after her morning cup of coffee , she would drink cola products and eat unhealthy snacks whenever she felt tired . Once she saw this , she changed her habits to include healthy meals and snacks . She no longer felt exhausted because she connected the dots between her lack of energy and her lifestyle choices .
Critical thinking is about connecting the dots , and knowledge enables us to connect those dots .
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