There is an old quote that states, “A chain is
only as strong as its weakest link.”
This is such a true sentiment and certainly applies to the connections
we have and continue to make. Whether
those connections are with other people, ideas, content knowledge, or experiences,
it is that ability to make connections and links that support our learning and
habits.
Consider this—if you as a small child had not made
the connection between the feeling of heat and being burned, you would continue
to go around and touch every hot thing (often getting burned in the process)
because you did not get the connection between the feeling of heat and getting
burned. Hollywood has made several films
on this inability to make connections. 50
First Dates is one of them. The Drew
Barrymore character had no ability to transfer short term memory experiences
into long term memory. As a result, she
was trapped reliving the same day over and over. Her family, trying to save her from the daily
trauma of realizing she can’t remember the day before, played along and relived
the same day over and over along with her.
Another film is Groundhog Day.
In this film the Bill Murray character, a weatherman, finds himself
living the same day over and over, much to his dismay. The Family Man with Nicholas Cage was
another take on the notion of connection and had a fast-lane Cage make a
connection with being a family man in an alternative life, and the ever-popular
It’s A Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart allowed the main character to
view the world had he not been there.
Making connections—in reality or through vicarious
means—is important. Helping youth see
how things are connected is important as they are preparing to participate in a
global environment and community.
Looking for common ground will become an essential skill as we connect
with people from other countries, religions, cultures, and points of view. One strategy you can use on a regular basis
to help youth make connections is debriefing.
Debriefing helps youth see how the experience connects to other
experiences and attach that learning in the brain—making the learning,
sticky.
Too often we view learning in silos. How can you connect what you do in the
afterschool space with the school day , the community, and the family?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Let us know what you think...