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:"A developmental task is a task which is learned at a specific point and which makes achievement of succeeding tasks possible. When the timing is right, the ability to learn a particular task will be possible. This is referred to as a 'teachable moment.' It is important to keep in mind that unless the time is right, learning will not occur. Hence, it is important to repeat important points whenever possible so that when a student's teachable moment occurs, s/he can benefit from the knowledge."<ref>Havinghurst, Robert James, (1952). [http://books.google.com/books?id=OBl-AAAAMAAJ&q=human+development+and+education&dq=human+development+and+education&client=firefox-a ''Human Development and Education,'' p. 7.]</ref>
:"A developmental task is a task which is learned at a specific point and which makes achievement of succeeding tasks possible. When the timing is right, the ability to learn a particular task will be possible. This is referred to as a 'teachable moment.' It is important to keep in mind that unless the time is right, learning will not occur. Hence, it is important to repeat important points whenever possible so that when a student's teachable moment occurs, s/he can benefit from the knowledge."<ref>Havinghurst, Robert James, (1952). [http://books.google.com/books?id=OBl-AAAAMAAJ&q=human+development+and+education&dq=human+development+and+education&client=firefox-a ''Human Development and Education,'' p. 7.]</ref>


The concept pre-dates Havighurst's book, as the phrase does,<ref>For example, "...this opportune time, this most teachable moment..." Brandenburg, Walter E. (1917). ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=-L1215r80i0C&pg=PA84 The Philosophy of Christian Being]''. Sherman, French, p. 84. Retrieved on 2009-08-01.</ref> but he is credited with popularizing it.<ref>Wald, Barbara Frankel. [http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0212/issue/letters-footnote.html Letters: "Footnote to a headline,"] ''University of Chicago Magazine.'' Vol. 95, No. 2 (December 2002).</ref>
The concept pre-dates Havighurst's book, as the phrase does,<ref>For example, "...this opportune time, this most teachable moment..." Brandenburg, Walter E. (1917). ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=-L1215r80i0C&pg=PA84 The Philosophy of Christian Being]''. Sherman, French, p. 84. Retrieved on 2009-08-01.</ref> but he is credited with popularizing it.<ref>Wald, Barbara Frankel. [http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0212/issue/letters-footnote.html Letters: "Footnote to a headline,"] ''University of Chicago Magazine.'' Vol. 95, No. 2 (December 2002).</ref> Good teaching is interactive &ndash; it engages and responds simultaneously.<ref>Gladwell, Malcolm. (2002). [http://books.google.com/books?id=MMlxzMNkE_0C&pg=PA90&dq=gladwell+and+interactive&lr=&client=firefox-a ''The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference,'' p. 90.]</ref>


The phrase sometimes denotes, not a developmental stage, but rather "that moment when a unique, high interest situation arises that lends itself to discussion of a particular topic."<ref>Lozo, Fredric (2005). ''[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16547/16547-h/16547-h.htm The Project Gutenberg eBook of ''Sequential Problem Solving'']. Originally published by Eidon Books, 1998, ISBN 0967416604.</ref> It implies "personal engagement" with issues and problems.<ref>Parker-Pope, Tara. [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/health/healthspecial2/15discipline.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print "It’s Not Discipline, It’s a Teachable Moment,"] ''New York Times.'' September 15, 2008.</ref> The term encourages attempts to investigate beyond circumscribed arguments to the systemic roots of any problem. Such attempts are projected to achieve a kind of [[cognitive dissonance]] which becomes an opportunity for teaching and learning; and this becomes an exercise which fosters an awareness of the possibilities for change in systems many previously thought to be immutable.<ref>Magness, Jacqueline B. (2007). [http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-042099-225243/unrestricted/chapter1d.pdf "The Genesis and Gestation of a Justice Journey: Catherine Pinkerton, CSJ, Champion of and Educator for the Common Good," p. 2n7.] University of Vermont, Ph.D. dissertation, 2007</ref>
The phrase sometimes denotes, not a developmental stage, but rather "that moment when a unique, high interest situation arises that lends itself to discussion of a particular topic."<ref>Lozo, Fredric (2005). ''[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16547/16547-h/16547-h.htm The Project Gutenberg eBook of ''Sequential Problem Solving'']. Originally published by Eidon Books, 1998, ISBN 0967416604.</ref> It implies "personal engagement" with issues and problems.<ref>Parker-Pope, Tara. [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/health/healthspecial2/15discipline.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print "It’s Not Discipline, It’s a Teachable Moment,"] ''New York Times.'' September 15, 2008.</ref> The term encourages attempts to investigate beyond circumscribed arguments to the systemic roots of any problem. Such attempts are projected to achieve a kind of [[cognitive dissonance]] which becomes an opportunity for teaching and learning; and this becomes an exercise which fosters an awareness of the possibilities for change in systems many previously thought to be immutable.<ref>Magness, Jacqueline B. (2007). [http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-042099-225243/unrestricted/chapter1d.pdf "The Genesis and Gestation of a Justice Journey: Catherine Pinkerton, CSJ, Champion of and Educator for the Common Good," p. 2n7.] University of Vermont, Ph.D. dissertation, 2007</ref>


===Pedagogic catchphrase===
The pivotal time-frame in which a paradigm shift becomes possible is captured with a definitional label which became a pedagogic [[catchphrase]].<ref>Lassman, Janet. [http://www.find-health-articles.com/rec_pub_11275867-teachable-moments-paradigm-shift.htm "Teachable Moments: A Paradigm Shift,"] ''Journal of Emergency Nursing'' (April 2001). Vol. 27, Issue 2, pp. 171-175.</ref>


==Political use==
==Political use==
{{Main|Arrest of Henry Louis Gates}}
{{Main|Arrest of Henry Louis Gates}}
In July 2009, Harvard professor [[Henry Louis Gates]] was arrested at his [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]] home; the incident garnered media attention throughout the [[United States]]. Shortly afterward, the mayor of Cambridge, [[E. Denise Simmons]], said that she hoped the the result would be a "teachable moment".<ref>CBS Broadcasting, Inc. [http://wbztv.com/local/Henry.Louis.Gates.2.1096348.html [[Deval Patrick|Patrick]] 'Troubled' By Harvard Professor's Arrest]. WBZ-TV, July 22, 2009.</ref> U.S. President [[Barack Obama]]'s comments about the incident affected the unfolding news story. [[Barack Obama]] expressed the same hope as Simmons in his subsequent explanation:
In July 2009, Harvard professor [[Henry Louis Gates]] was arrested at his [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]] home; the incident garnered media attention throughout the [[United States]]. Shortly afterward, the mayor of Cambridge, [[E. Denise Simmons]], said that she hoped the the result would be a "teachable moment".<ref>CBS Broadcasting, Inc. [http://wbztv.com/local/Henry.Louis.Gates.2.1096348.html [[Deval Patrick|Patrick]] 'Troubled' By Harvard Professor's Arrest]. WBZ-TV, July 22, 2009.</ref> U.S. President [[Barack Obama]]'s comments about the incident affected the unfolding news story. Obama expressed the same hope as Simmons in his subsequent explanation:
:"My hope is, is that as a consequence of this event this ends up being what's called a '''teachable moment''', where all of us instead of pumping up the volume spend a little more time listening to each other and try to focus on how we can generally improve relations between police officers and minority communities, and that instead of flinging accusations we can all be a little more reflective in terms of what we can do to contribute to more unity."<ref>Obama, Barack. [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Statement-by-the-President-in-the-James-S-Brady-Briefing-Room/ "Statement by the President,"] White House Press Office. July 24, 2009.</ref> Obama's use of the phrase attracted considerable comment in the American media and blogosphere.
:"My hope is, is that as a consequence of this event this ends up being what's called a '''teachable moment''', where all of us instead of pumping up the volume spend a little more time listening to each other and try to focus on how we can generally improve relations between police officers and minority communities, and that instead of flinging accusations we can all be a little more reflective in terms of what we can do to contribute to more unity... I just wanted to emphasize that—one last point I guess I would make. There are some who say that as President I shouldn't have stepped into this at all because it's a local issue. I have to tell you that that part of it I disagree with. The fact that this has become such a big issue I think is indicative of the fact that race is still a troubling aspect of our society. Whether I were black or white, I think that me commenting on this and hopefully contributing to constructive–as opposed to negative–understandings about the issue, is part of my portfolio.<ref>Obama, Barack. [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Statement-by-the-President-in-the-James-S-Brady-Briefing-Room/ "Statement by the President,"] White House Press Office. July 24, 2009.</ref>


Gates himself echoed the same theme, stating, "I told the President that my entire career as an educator has been devoted to racial healing and improved race relations in this country. I am determined that this be a teaching moment."<ref>Baker, Peter and Helene Cooper. [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/us/politics/25gates.html?scp=19&sq=teachable%20moment&st=cse "Obama Shifts Tone on Gates After Mulling Debate,"] ''New York Times.'' July 24, 2009.</ref>
Gates himself echoed the same theme, stating, "I told the President that my entire career as an educator has been devoted to racial healing and improved race relations in this country. I am determined that this be a teaching moment."<ref>Baker, Peter and Helene Cooper. [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/us/politics/25gates.html?scp=19&sq=teachable%20moment&st=cse "Obama Shifts Tone on Gates After Mulling Debate,"] ''New York Times.'' July 24, 2009.</ref>

Obama's use of the phrase attracted considerable comment in the American media and blogosphere. For example:

===Media analysis===
{{dynamic list}}
* [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robin-wells/hard-truths-and-the-teach_b_245856.html "Hard Truths and the Teachable Moment"] by [[Robin Wells]] in the ''[[The Huffington Post]].''
:Robin Wells sought to summarize conflicting perspectives. She argued that Gates and Sgt. Crowley came away from their initial encounter with deep grievances: "grievance for being an acclaimed Harvard scholar yet disrespected as a black man, grievance for being disrespected as an officer, verbally assaulted while serving the public good". In this scenario, Wells suggested that Sgt. Crowley, having verified the facts, should have apologized for the misunderstanding and left. She said that Gates could have calmly explained his outrage, and view Sgt. Crowley as doing his job by carrying out an innocent investigation without racial overtones, rather than angrily demanding respect.<ref>Wells, Robin. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robin-wells/hard-truths-and-the-teach_b_245856.html "Hard Truths and the Teachable Moment: The Gates-Crowley Saga,"] ''Huffington Post.'' July 28, 2009.</ref>

===Blogosphere===
{{dynamic list}}
* [http://www.thegrio.com/2009/07/teachable-moment-obama-failed-to-teach-us-anything.php "Obama flunks his "teachable moment,"] by [[Mark Anthony Neal]] at [http://www.thegrio.com/ The Griot].
:Mark Neal focused on the opportunity for teaching, which might have converted the elements of this one incident into a lesson: "We all want a president who takes the time to hear about and understand the everyday struggles we face. But that is exactly what the president failed to do when he took up the issue of the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. by a Cambridge police officer. Rather than use a reporter's query about Gates' arrest as an opportunity to discuss the issues of racial profiling and police harassment - a teachable moment, if you will - the president chose to close ranks around his friend."<ref>Neal, Mark Anthony. [http://www.thegrio.com/2009/07/teachable-moment-obama-failed-to-teach-us-anything.php "Obama flunks his "teachable moment,"] The Griot (blog). July 31, 2009.</ref>

==="New" political catchphrase===
Although Obama may have failed to achieve any constructive goals, he did bring the catchword phrase "teachable moment" into a new prominence.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 02:27, 23 August 2009

A teachable moment is a concept popularized by Robert Havighurst in his 1952 book, Human Development and Education. In the context of educational theory, Havighurst explained,

"A developmental task is a task which is learned at a specific point and which makes achievement of succeeding tasks possible. When the timing is right, the ability to learn a particular task will be possible. This is referred to as a 'teachable moment.' It is important to keep in mind that unless the time is right, learning will not occur. Hence, it is important to repeat important points whenever possible so that when a student's teachable moment occurs, s/he can benefit from the knowledge."[1]

The concept pre-dates Havighurst's book, as the phrase does,[2] but he is credited with popularizing it.[3] Good teaching is interactive – it engages and responds simultaneously.[4]

The phrase sometimes denotes, not a developmental stage, but rather "that moment when a unique, high interest situation arises that lends itself to discussion of a particular topic."[5] It implies "personal engagement" with issues and problems.[6] The term encourages attempts to investigate beyond circumscribed arguments to the systemic roots of any problem. Such attempts are projected to achieve a kind of cognitive dissonance which becomes an opportunity for teaching and learning; and this becomes an exercise which fosters an awareness of the possibilities for change in systems many previously thought to be immutable.[7]

Pedagogic catchphrase

The pivotal time-frame in which a paradigm shift becomes possible is captured with a definitional label which became a pedagogic catchphrase.[8]

Political use

Main article: Arrest of Henry Louis Gates

In July 2009, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates was arrested at his Cambridge, Massachusetts home; the incident garnered media attention throughout the United States. Shortly afterward, the mayor of Cambridge, E. Denise Simmons, said that she hoped the the result would be a "teachable moment".[9] U.S. President Barack Obama's comments about the incident affected the unfolding news story. Obama expressed the same hope as Simmons in his subsequent explanation:

"My hope is, is that as a consequence of this event this ends up being what's called a teachable moment, where all of us instead of pumping up the volume spend a little more time listening to each other and try to focus on how we can generally improve relations between police officers and minority communities, and that instead of flinging accusations we can all be a little more reflective in terms of what we can do to contribute to more unity... I just wanted to emphasize that—one last point I guess I would make. There are some who say that as President I shouldn't have stepped into this at all because it's a local issue. I have to tell you that that part of it I disagree with. The fact that this has become such a big issue I think is indicative of the fact that race is still a troubling aspect of our society. Whether I were black or white, I think that me commenting on this and hopefully contributing to constructive–as opposed to negative–understandings about the issue, is part of my portfolio.[10]

Gates himself echoed the same theme, stating, "I told the President that my entire career as an educator has been devoted to racial healing and improved race relations in this country. I am determined that this be a teaching moment."[11]

Obama's use of the phrase attracted considerable comment in the American media and blogosphere. For example:

Media analysis

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Robin Wells sought to summarize conflicting perspectives. She argued that Gates and Sgt. Crowley came away from their initial encounter with deep grievances: "grievance for being an acclaimed Harvard scholar yet disrespected as a black man, grievance for being disrespected as an officer, verbally assaulted while serving the public good". In this scenario, Wells suggested that Sgt. Crowley, having verified the facts, should have apologized for the misunderstanding and left. She said that Gates could have calmly explained his outrage, and view Sgt. Crowley as doing his job by carrying out an innocent investigation without racial overtones, rather than angrily demanding respect.[12]

Blogosphere

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Mark Neal focused on the opportunity for teaching, which might have converted the elements of this one incident into a lesson: "We all want a president who takes the time to hear about and understand the everyday struggles we face. But that is exactly what the president failed to do when he took up the issue of the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. by a Cambridge police officer. Rather than use a reporter's query about Gates' arrest as an opportunity to discuss the issues of racial profiling and police harassment - a teachable moment, if you will - the president chose to close ranks around his friend."[13]

"New" political catchphrase

Although Obama may have failed to achieve any constructive goals, he did bring the catchword phrase "teachable moment" into a new prominence.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Havinghurst, Robert James, (1952). Human Development and Education, p. 7.
  2. ^ For example, "...this opportune time, this most teachable moment..." Brandenburg, Walter E. (1917). The Philosophy of Christian Being. Sherman, French, p. 84. Retrieved on 2009-08-01.
  3. ^ Wald, Barbara Frankel. Letters: "Footnote to a headline," University of Chicago Magazine. Vol. 95, No. 2 (December 2002).
  4. ^ Gladwell, Malcolm. (2002). The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, p. 90.
  5. ^ Lozo, Fredric (2005). The Project Gutenberg eBook of Sequential Problem Solving. Originally published by Eidon Books, 1998, ISBN 0967416604.
  6. ^ Parker-Pope, Tara. "It’s Not Discipline, It’s a Teachable Moment," New York Times. September 15, 2008.
  7. ^ Magness, Jacqueline B. (2007). "The Genesis and Gestation of a Justice Journey: Catherine Pinkerton, CSJ, Champion of and Educator for the Common Good," p. 2n7. University of Vermont, Ph.D. dissertation, 2007
  8. ^ Lassman, Janet. "Teachable Moments: A Paradigm Shift," Journal of Emergency Nursing (April 2001). Vol. 27, Issue 2, pp. 171-175.
  9. ^ CBS Broadcasting, Inc. Patrick 'Troubled' By Harvard Professor's Arrest. WBZ-TV, July 22, 2009.
  10. ^ Obama, Barack. "Statement by the President," White House Press Office. July 24, 2009.
  11. ^ Baker, Peter and Helene Cooper. "Obama Shifts Tone on Gates After Mulling Debate," New York Times. July 24, 2009.
  12. ^ Wells, Robin. "Hard Truths and the Teachable Moment: The Gates-Crowley Saga," Huffington Post. July 28, 2009.
  13. ^ Neal, Mark Anthony. "Obama flunks his "teachable moment," The Griot (blog). July 31, 2009.

References

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