LEARNING AS SELF-REORGANIZATION

Charles François (2004). LEARNING AS SELF-REORGANIZATION, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 1875.

Collection	International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics
Year	2004
Vol. (num.)	2(1)
ID	◀ 1875 ▶
Object type	Discipline oriented, Epistemology, ontology or semantics, Methodology or model

R. NUMMELA CAINE and M. CAINE, centering their attention on knowledge acquisition , contend that: “Acquiring new natural knowledge fundamentally changes the way in which we perceive ourselves. In meaningful learning, the brain itself is reorganized, and that has consequences for the perceived self”

And: “We suggest that this process (of active uncertainty) is critical to helping the brain make maximum connections ” (1994, p.137-8)

In relation to the inner perception of the sudden emergence of a new and re-arranged understanding (the so-called “aha” episodes), they add: “The emergence of the ”aha“ is frequently preceded by periods of uncertainty or ambiguity and hard, intrinsically motivated work requiring delay of other forms of gratification” (Ibid)

This is not only the case in learning but, possibly still more so in artistic and scientific creativity : great new concepts mostly seem to appear in flashes of sudden insight… duly prepared by a long period of frustrating and obscure useless trials and errors . Many great scientists have given their testimony on this.

See also