As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, we are constantly inundated with think-pieces and articles that discuss how education will need to adapt their methods to effectively teach our students. While true of all levels of education, perhaps the most critical space requiring new ways of thinking and operating is higher education. But, given the need for quick pivots at all levels of college administration, how can we expect a worthwhile, engaging, and most importantly safe learning experience for those entering or returning to campuses?
One answer is learning to make decisions and adapt through a process called "FAST" decision making.
"There are four primary dimensions of effective agile, or “FAST,” decision making — flexibility, anticipation, strength, and transparency. The FAST framework provides leaders with a tool to balance speed and structure, understanding that the consequences of their decisions are amplified in times of crisis."
Continue reading to learn more about how the FAST model enables leaders in higher education to make decisions that will impact their faculty and students for the better, in spite of the obstacles of the current global health crisis.
Keeping in mind the need for new models of educating, this recent opinion piece from Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, a psychologist and neuroscientist, lays out a potential format for online learning that could be adapted from a relatively old model: the tutorial system.
"In the classic tutorial system, students do most of their learning in small sessions that include the professor (or an assistant) and just a few other students. The students are expected to work actively with the material as they engage critically with the instructor and one another. Discussions and additional reading are tailored to students’ abilities and interests. Courses may also include larger lectures and traditional exams, but the tutorials are where the main action happens."
This classic system, with a modern spin, using online platforms to engage via text and video call, could not only provide educators with a useful option for engaging their students in a new learning environment, but could possibly provide us with a blueprint for more impactful and accessible learning.
Peter Gray, Ph.D. is a research professor at Boston College and author of the book Free to Learn.
His work in the fields of neuroendocrinology, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education exposes a fundamental flaw in modern Western education systems. Gray emphasizes throughout much of his work the importance of lifelong play, and its role in creating lifelong learners.
This piece compiles many of Gray's blog posts from his blog Freedom to Learn into an PDF format. Dig into Gray's insights, and grapple with the challenges he makes towards an education system that he deems as "more restrictive schooling."
Listen to a recent podcast episode from the Rich Roll Podcast featuring neuroscientist and tenured professor in the Department of Neurobiology at Stanford University School of Medicine, Dr. Andrew Huberman.
"First and foremost, this is a conversation about what it really takes to shift our thought patterns.
"A master class on all things neuroplasticity, Dr. Huberman walks us through the brain’s inherent ability to modify itself based on experience and how we can advantageously leverage this process–through focus, mindfulness and restorative sleep–to not only learn new skills but also improve all essential aspects of well-being."
This fascinating conversation digs into the neuroscience behind mindset in a fun and engaging way.
P.S. The first 26 minutes feature a brief conversation with Rich's friend Utkarsh Ambudkar talking about a new documentary he is involved in, who is a fascinating person in his own right. If you'd rather skip to the main conversation, jump ahead to about the 26-minute mark!
In this episode of the Knowledge Project podcast, best-selling author and professional poker player Annie Duke and Shane Parrish "discuss how to disagree without being disagreeable, spotting biases that sabotage our success, how to find signal in noise, and reliable decision-making models for high stakes, high-pressure situations."
Given the uncertainty of our collective and individual futures, this podcast episode offers us an informative and heartening perspective on how to make better decisions in the face of the unknown.
