Teachable moment: Difference between revisions
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The concept pre-dates Havighurst's book, as does use of the phrase,<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 does use of the phrase,<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> |
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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. |
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> |
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==Political use== |
==Political use== |
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Revision as of 16:21, 23 August 2009
A teachable moment, in education, is the time at which learning a particular topic or idea becomes possible or easiest.
The concept was 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 does use of the phrase,[2] but he is credited with popularizing it.[3]
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."[4] It implies "personal engagement" with issues and problems.[5]
Political use
In July 2009, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates was arrested at his home; the incident garnered media attention throughout the United States. The mayor of Cambridge, E. Denise Simmons, said that she hoped the the result would be a "teachable moment".[6] U.S. President Barack Obama expressed the same hope as Simmons:
- "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."[7] Obama's use of the phrase attracted considerable comment in the American media and blogosphere.
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."[8]
See also
Notes
- ^ Havinghurst, Robert James, (1952). Human Development and Education, p. 7.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Wald, Barbara Frankel. Letters: "Footnote to a headline," University of Chicago Magazine. Vol. 95, No. 2 (December 2002).
- ^ Lozo, Fredric (2005). The Project Gutenberg eBook of Sequential Problem Solving. Originally published by Eidon Books, 1998, ISBN 0967416604.
- ^ Parker-Pope, Tara. "It’s Not Discipline, It’s a Teachable Moment," New York Times. September 15, 2008.
- ^ CBS Broadcasting, Inc. Patrick 'Troubled' By Harvard Professor's Arrest. WBZ-TV, July 22, 2009.
- ^ Obama, Barack. "Statement by the President," White House Press Office. July 24, 2009.
- ^ Baker, Peter and Helene Cooper. "Obama Shifts Tone on Gates After Mulling Debate," New York Times. July 24, 2009.
References
- Festinger, Leon. (1957). A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance. Stanford: Stanford University Press. 10-ISBN 0-804-70911-4; 13-ISBN 978-0-804-70911-8
- Gladwell, Malcolm. (2002). The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. Boston: Back Bay. 10-ISBN 0-316-34662-4; 13-ISBN 978-0-316-34662-7
- Havighurst, Robert James, (1952). Human Development and Education. New York: Longmans, Green. OCLC 223047