When You Learn Something New, Are You Eating Brussel Sprouts or Collecting Feathers?

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7">First, I wrote, “Knowledge is like feathers.” on the board, put them in small groups, and had them discuss for a few minutes. They were trying but couldn’t see the connection so then I asked a few more questions.</p><h1 id="f507">What can you use a feather for?</h1><p id="83bd">They came up with all kinds of answers from making a pillow to help you sleep better, making a pen to write down your thoughts with, and decorating a dress were among them.</p><h1 id="a74c">Then I asked them what birds use feathers for.</h1><p id="fe70">Why fly, of course! OK, and what do birds experience when they are flying?</p><p id="3570"><b>They see the world from different perspectives and they can go to places that would be impossible to go on little bird legs.</b></p><p id="f3ec">Instead of approaching knowledge as something that is “good for you”, think of it as feathers.</p><p id="b05a">If you feel unmotivated because you just don’t see the point, remember, while one feather might not seem very useful, a whole lot of feathers, put together can be super useful and make your life more comfortable. If you put them together just right, they can become your wings.</p><p id="79f2">Check

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out <a href="undefined">Laura Cunha</a>’s article about how calligraphy is a metaphor for learning</p><div id="db28" class="link-block"> <a href="https://laura-cunha.medium.com/calligraphy-is-the-perfect-metaphor-for-learning-e2c157a1b563"> <div> <div> <h2>Calligraphy is the perfect metaphor for learning</h2> <div><h3>How practising calligraphy promotes a beginner’s mindset</h3></div> <div><p>laura-cunha.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*Nwfn3TzmmKyoB9Cuy90wZw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="067d"><i>If you want to <a href="/@kiadecou/membership">sign up for Medium</a> so you can read all of the stories and write them too, consider using <a href="/@kiadecou/membership">my link</a>. Part of your $5 monthly fee will go to me but it won’t cost you any more, yippee, we both win. Then you can get started writing and I can read your articles too! I can’t wait to see what you have to say.</i></p></article></body>

A metaphor to use when you are learning or teaching

Courtesy of Kim Baker (author)

In school, teachers hand out knowledge like Brussel sprouts. It is good for you, you probably won’t like it, we don’t care, just choke it down and move on to the next one.

When I was a student I hated this. I didn’t understand why knowledge was “good for me”, I didn’t know what to do with it and I just wanted to go outside and play. Now that I am an adult and a teacher at that, I still usually just want to go outside and play, but I have learned to love the Brussel sprouts, they just have to be cooked the right way (roasted with olive oil and spices).

A few years back, I was training future language teachers in eastern Turkey and trying to find a way to help them think about teaching and learning. I love metaphors so that is how I chose to go about it.

First, I wrote, “Knowledge is like feathers.” on the board, put them in small groups, and had them discuss for a few minutes. They were trying but couldn’t see the connection so then I asked a few more questions.

Then I asked them what birds use feathers for.

Why fly, of course! OK, and what do birds experience when they are flying?

They see the world from different perspectives and they can go to places that would be impossible to go on little bird legs.

Instead of approaching knowledge as something that is “good for you”, think of it as feathers.

If you feel unmotivated because you just don’t see the point, remember, while one feather might not seem very useful, a whole lot of feathers, put together can be super useful and make your life more comfortable. If you put them together just right, they can become your wings.

Check out Laura Cunha’s article about how calligraphy is a metaphor for learning

If you want to sign up for Medium so you can read all of the stories and write them too, consider using my link. Part of your $5 monthly fee will go to me but it won’t cost you any more, yippee, we both win. Then you can get started writing and I can read your articles too! I can’t wait to see what you have to say.