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Textbook Feelings and Emotion Based Learning A New Theory 1St Edition Jennifer A Hawkins Auth Ebook All Chapter PDF
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Jennifer
A.
Haw
kins
-
tion Based
Learning
o
d Em
Fee
an
li ngs
AN y
ew T h eor
Feelings and Emotion-Based Learning
Jennifer A. Hawkins
vii
viii FOREWORD BY JOHN CROMBY
and educational studies that can draw upon these and other intellectual
resources, in order to once again recognise feeling as a central and funda-
mental process within thinking, learning and teaching.
John Cromby
Reference
Cromby, J. (2015). Feeling bodies: Embodying psychology. London: Palgrave.
Foreword by Mick Waters
xi
xii FOREWORD BY MICK WATERS
power and the risk of people suppressing their inner humanity rather
than exploiting the power of feeling to harness opportunities for learn-
ing and overcoming challenges.
Rather than allowing the book to become a moan against interference
in professionalism, Jenny explores the reasons for emotions and feelings
having to play catch-up in the learning steeplechase. She charts the histori-
cal development of theories of learning and why the person of the learner
came a distant second to the pursuit of success measured in results that
would sift out enough of the workforce to manage and administer the rest.
In the securing of perceived success for a proportion, there was relatively
little consideration of the collateral damage done to the emotional and
social growth of many others. That some seemed to thrive in a bed of
emotional stinging nettles would re-assure the drivers of some strident
approaches to learning that it was the learner, rather than the teacher, who
needed to adapt.
Having put together the history with the theory, Jenny paints a picture
of how things might be different, using theory to substantiate her premise.
Beyond that, she includes examples, case studies, evidence of success and
testimonies. This is not a high-flown reactionary rhetoric; it is a carefully
considered, evidence-based research, with practical applications explained
in an accessible way. The book is authoritative without being pedantic,
deep without being impenetrable, instructive without being patronising
and hopeful about the need for rose-coloured spectacles.
For the reader, the book represents a critical overview as part of a field
of study, and it can equally be of benefit read from front to back or by tak-
ing sections and considering the message in context while returning to the
arguments in a different place to bring a new perspective. For teachers, the
book is that wonderful chance to look at an issue from both ends of the
telescope; to gain perspective by seeing the big picture and then looking
at the fine detail or vice versa.
What is clear is that anyone who reads this book will be challenged,
provoked, affected and enriched. As a result, the life chances of young-
sters will be enhanced as practice in classrooms and schools adjusts to take
better account of feelings and emotions and, further, uses what science
tells us about feelings and emotions to capitalise on learning experience.
The book is on the side of the learner and argues coherently for change
in schooling.
FOREWORD BY MICK WATERS
xiii
Mick Waters
Reference
Waters, M. (2013). Thinking allowed on schooling. Camarthen: Independent
Thinking Press.
Preface
xv
xvi PREFACE
intuitive approach altered the dynamic in teaching them and made the
process more productive, even when they and I could not explain why.
I looked at learning theory, influences on UK education and at clinical
cognitive research and found myself developing a feelings learning theory
as I made connections. Feelings and emotions inform us about the way we
see the world. Politicians, academics, especially scientists, educationalists
and practitioners have discounted them for too long. We would all benefit
from more awareness. They should be taken seriously because they can
help us to understand learning difficulty, evidence and justify choices and
record positive success.
Just as evolutionary theory continues to be proved by biologists, this
theory should be continually tested, proved and updated in different ways
and situations for various purposes. My hope is that ‘feelings’ collaborative
research learning theory, in whatever practical guise it is adopted, may be
formally recognised and developed further in the social professions.
xvii
Contents
xix
xx Contents
8 General Conclusion177
References179
Index181
List of Figures
xxiii
List of Tables
xxv
Introduction
This book compares and contrasts academic learning theories with current
social human learning environments discussing them in relation to mod-
ern cognitive research. It suggests that a feelings learning theory could
inform attitudes about learning and improve our understanding of learn-
ing behaviour. Although there are implications across the humanities for
this theory—the book looks specifically at learning and teaching. The
premise is that feelings, both physical and mental, are rational in individu-
als’ own terms and should be considered—whether or not we agree with
them. The book looks at learning processes and points out that feelings
and emotions appear logical to individuals according to how they see
things in the moment—being based in beliefs, memories and current
mental and physical experiences. Acknowledging feelings during and after
learning experiences can help solve cognitive difficulties, explain confusing
behaviour and help motivation. In my case, this was done as a teacher
doing collaborative research with teenage school refusers, adult students
and class teachers, creative peripatetic tutors and primary pupils. Some of
their difficulties and successes in learning are related as examples of this
type of research—including their own comments or voice snapshots col-
lected over ten years ago and edited for anonymity. It is interesting to see
how their comments can still teach us about similar problems today.
The book begins with two chapters of discussion and an academic argu-
ment for a new learning theory. It goes on to demonstrate how acknowl-
edging feelings during and after learning can change points of view,
develop learning ability, solve difficulties, motivate, justify choices and evi-
dence learning. The stories are intended to encourage the reader to make
xxvii
xxviii INTRODUCTION
The above are affected by individual genetic difficulties and abilities, dis-
abilities, habits, moods and tendencies, all of which vary.
This book is divided into eight chapters looking at ways to understand
feelings, emotions and behaviour. This section provides a short introduc-
tion to the book. The first chapter looks at learning theories and discusses
their relevance to education today. The second chapter investigates clinical
psychological research and explains why an additional learning theory
about emotion and feeling is needed. Chapter 3 relates teachers’ opinions
about how feelings affected their own learning and teaching. Chapter 4
tells some true stories about teenage students’ problems with learning
revealed as they were home tutored. Chapter 5 summarises teachers own
action research projects with accounts by creative tutors and teachers of
cross-curricular projects aimed at stimulating positive emotional engage-
ment with the curriculum. Chapter 6 summarises ideas put forward by
various educational experts, which might be useful to teachers in under-
taking collaborative action research in this field. Chapter 7 considers
research data collection methods, ethics and analysis relevant to collabora-
tive action research with implications for further ‘feelings’ research in
other social contexts. Chapter 8 presents some general implications and an
overall conclusion for the book.
CHAPTER 1
1.1 Introduction
This section looks at the practicality of learning theories for learning and
teaching, and considers some of the wider social prejudices the theories
have encouraged (which also affect other social research contexts). The
chapter looks at clinical research which now proves that emotions and
senses are physically necessary to thinking and how this compares with our
everyday experience. Although we all know that feelings about work, family
and social situations and those about choices, idiosyncratic preferences, tal-
ents, motivations and ambitions, are important, these have been ignored by
traditional learning theories. They have also been overlooked by educa-
tional experts and politicians looking for expedient solutions informed by
their own preferences. Our feelings and emotions are based on our differ-
ent personal histories, cultural heritages and communities. When teaching
is appropriate, it achieves results, at the same time respecting differences
and building self-belief. People remember breakthrough moments and
inspirational teachers (who gained knowledge from understanding student
feedback and improved motivation). Students of all ages learn through
emotional involvement in social, collaborative activities especially when ful-
filling a need or interest in doing so. Good teachers and trainers have always
improved students’ opportunities by understanding subconscious drivers,
but they have lacked a supporting learning theory to justify their work.
• Pagan and Chinese beliefs revere and respect nature, for example
Buddhism, Taoism and Confucian philosophy.
• Asian beliefs have mythological gods to explain human life, for exam-
ple Hinduism and Sikhism.
• Greek and Roman beliefs had gods but developed rationality, logic,
individualism and the pursuit of imperial power.
• Christian, Islam and Judaism stress one god, kindness to others and
to have beliefs about their own superiority, idyllic and awful afterlives
beyond death.
These ideas still influence experts’ attitudes. They may be overt or hidden
arising from custom and practice. They are partially or wholly absorbed as
truths and still influence schools of thought affecting learners with differ-
ent ethnic origins, cultures and habitual family traditions. In the West,
there are academic learning theories incorporating socially accepted
assumptions. These affect educational policy and can be counter-productive
to individual learner’s situations because of the prejudices and assumptions
they make about how groups of ‘normal’ people behave.
The scientific method of research with hypotheses as written about by
Socrates is an excellent method—used appropriately. Scientists start
research from what they know is already provable. (‘Scio’ means that
which I know.) This is a good way to gather scientific data, but in social
sciences, problems arise when we assume ‘logical’ questions and follow
limited enquiries. The way social questions are posed can be affected—
assuming facts which corrupt the answers. New information can be over-
looked through a refusal to consider other views or by lack of awareness.
Educational theorists (like politicians) have had a tendency to argue
between two ideas without looking at alternatives. There has been a tradi-
tion of categorising and sorting in the physical sciences, influencing psy-
chology and education. These approaches encourage oversimplified ideas
about our brains. Yet we continue to discover that those brains have
extraordinary difference and complexity.
Humans instinctively seek out safety. We have an emotional need to
agree on definite truths in our lives. We tend to seek a mental safe haven
4 1 LEARNING THEORIES AND RELEVANCE
Kircher and David (2003) listed five different areas where human ‘con-
sciousness’ is researched. Even though one might question the use of the
word consciousness, this list shows the complex ways through which
human intelligence can be studied. I have edited these and added a sixth—
philosophical biological studies about cognition within nature—as
follows:
The idea shown by neuroscience that there are discrete parts of the
brain (left- and right-side brain abilities) which deal exclusively with cer-
tain tasks is too simple a view. Different brain regions can work together
to perform tasks in new, individual and even ‘apparently’ random ways.
Brain imaging can show many areas connecting to perform facial recogni-
tion, understanding moods in others and rebuilding to compensate for
disabilities. This direct neuro-physical approach is beginning to explain
how behaviours are enabled by bio-chemical processes on a micro-level
(Greenfield, 2000). These aspects are part of a multi-dimensional orches-
tra of senses and organs inter-reacting within the body affected by the
environment. Psychologists’ difficulties in explaining sub- or unconscious
thought may be due to constant brain/body activity.
Physical and mental feelings stimulate the brain at different levels of
awareness. Humans experience feelings as their sensory organs interact with
existing mental networks and memory. These sensations, connections, rea-
sonings and thoughts are fleeting, but important for learning. People feel
emotion, connect internally, act and communicate rapidly. However, some of
this behaviour can be recorded and underlying reasons discovered by think-
ing about it retrospectively. Research can be done by enlisting the ‘subject’ in
self-reflection and self-analysis and collaborating with them to find solutions.
In the past, this was done by psychologists through psychoanalysis treating
mental health difficulties and by counsellors collaborating with people to
help them overcome emotional problems. Cognitive behavioural therapy has
developed out of these approaches as another therapeutic method.
Feelings such as enthusiasm, curiosity, determination, disappointment,
triumph and satisfaction and the ability to overcome failure are definitely
involved in learning. They exist, but psychologists have been unable to put
them into categories. The idea that an emotion is real, generally experi-
enced and yet individually unique has caused a problem for traditional
quantitative researchers using scientific precision, measurement and pre-
dictability methods. Qualitative and mixed-method social researchers, on
the other hand, have developed a mixture of ways to record human states
of mind, opinions and behaviours. These depend very much on thinking
about different situations carefully, reporting problems, situations, inci-
dental and spontaneous events.
The following research problems have existed:
Now, we are better informed that professionals can prove the value of
working with feelings and emotions by carrying out more research into
everyday individual human experiences.
Pinker, a cognitive psychologist and language expert, says that ideas
about heredity and environment, nature and nurture, biology and cul-
ture—though not wrong—are not enough to explain how we think. He
talks of complex genetic recipes causing genes to co-operate in unfathom-
able ways. He says that the human genome probably uses the capacity of
neurons to process information during the brain assembly as it develops
(1997). This may even mean that our parents’ physical condition and state
of mind around the time of our conception can affect us. However, our
bodies and brains are much influenced by all of these factors—emotions
and feelings are an important measure of what we are thinking, where we
are at any given moment, where we have come from and where we may be
going. Even though we may only be able to rationalise them retrospec-
tively and partially—they are not just a product—their function is to help
us measure our personal reality. This idea is consistent with Pinker’s view
that the brain constantly tunes itself to the unpredictable as it takes in
information. It seems that the brain is a self-organising organism that,
according to neuro-cognitive research, can alter, evolve and regress
throughout our lives. Neuroscience calls this ability plasticity.
So our brains are biological machines or engines that constantly adjust
to conditions and adapt to events in order to help us survive. This explains
much about awarenesses of feelings and emotions experienced through-
out the body as receptors and drivers of this activity. Such activities may be
both ‘productive’ and ‘counter-productive’ for learning, depending on
the value judgements applied. Neuroscientists have discovered about
100 billion or so neurons, involved in the electrical and chemical processes
8 1 LEARNING THEORIES AND RELEVANCE
by which the human brain functions. It takes about 1–2 milliseconds for a
neuron to respond and return to its resting potential (Greenfield, 2000).
This speed and intricacy, informed by conscious and unconscious feelings,
can explain ‘unconscious’ thoughts and behaviours often seen as irrational
and instinctive. Our minds do not have to be hopelessly fixed, and they are
not always predictable. They are not gradually built up into permanent
constructions as educationalists have assumed—with predetermined lim-
its. Human beings have dormant developmental abilities, and these can be
activated and deactivated by different experiences which evolve idiosyn-
cratically over time in various ways.
17 juillet 1918.
C’est adorable, mais gênant. Je lis au lit ; une nuée de papillons
de nuit, fauves, velus, à grosse tête ornée de panaches, voltigent
lourdement autour de ma tête, sur mon oreiller, en laissant derrière
eux une poudre jaune comme du pollen. Je ne puis dormir : nuit
d’orage, de pluie battante, de chaleur moite. Je dépose le Journal
des de Goncourt et vais au balcon pour me rafraîchir. Il fait un noir
opaque, fouetté par des émanations qui illuminent tout le pays, et en
bas, dans le jardin, j’aperçois un ver luisant qui brille, même quand
les éclairs embrasent tout : il s’occupe bien des intempéries, celui-
là… Je scrute la nuit, mais je ne vois pas voltiger l’amoureux
phosphorescent, incandescent, qu’elle appelle, et elle luit, luit, dans
le gazon inondé…
Quant à mes oreillers, ils sont couverts de papillons : rien n’égale
leur beauté, leur variété de formes, de couleurs, et le précieux des
tissus : jamais manteau de déesse n’a pu approcher de cette
délicate opulence. Mais, mes chéris, où voulez-vous que je pose ma
tête ? Vous me préparez une nuit blanche… Voilà, ils se fourrent
dans mes cheveux, mon cou… Je vais chercher mon verre
agrandissant… Ah ! ce sont des monstres merveilleux, à tête
énorme, au crâne bossué, à cornes, à trompes, à suçoirs, à pattes
barbelées… Seulement, mes trésors, je voudrais dormir et,
maintenant que je vous ai vus, je voudrais bien me débarrasser de
vous, et vous êtes là d’une familiarité… vous descendez le long de
mon dos, sous mon vêtement, et vous glissez, toutes ailes
déployées, le long de mes draps…
Ça va finir : je vais éteindre, et ils se colleront tous au plafond…
1918.
On lance des mines dans les bruyères. C’est une chute brutale,
pesante, sans écho, qui doit réduire en bouillie ou vous incruster en
terre. Mon Dieu, comme cela m’ébranle le système nerveux !
Dans les pinières où je me promène, il fait délicieux : la pluie
d’hier a rendu le tapis d’aiguilles moelleux ; une légère brise fait
onduler les cimes de pins ; le soleil filtre, le parfum de résine
ressemble à de l’encens : exquis, exquis ! Mes chiens courent et
aboient après un écureuil qui, de terreur, saute d’une haute pinière
dans une basse ; il tombe, ils l’ont ! Non, d’un bond il est de nouveau
en haut ; la chienne, de frénésie, bondit à une hauteur de deux
mètres et embrasse l’arbre ; aïe, elle se déchire le ventre et hurle ;
l’écureuil voltige déjà au loin, poursuivi par les deux chiens.
Rien dans la nature n’est ami ou bienveillant. Voilà des
aéroplanes de guerre qui s’exercent au-dessus des pinières…
Encore des mines, han ! han !… Les merles chantent… Je continue
ma promenade, l’esprit dispersé et ne pouvant se fixer sur rien par
l’agitation que me donne ce bruit.
Voilà encore un joli écureuil, au ventre blanc, que mes chiens ont
découvert ; il veut se mettre en sûreté dans des pins plus élevés ; il
voltige jusque sur le bord d’un chemin. Voyant qu’il ne pourra
atteindre la branche qui avance de l’autre côté, il ricoche à droite, où
une autre s’étend au-dessus du chemin ; il y saute, file en coin, puis,
d’un bond plané, atteint une branche de la plus haute pinière. Alors il
fait tant de méandres que mes chiens perdent sa piste.
Eh bien, il n’y avait pas que de l’instinct dans les agissements de
l’écureuil : il y avait certainement de la réflexion et de la
combinaison.
Au loin le canon ! les mines ! le carnage et le massacre !
1918.
8 mai 1922.
Pages
Angelinette 7
Je voulais en faire un homme 67
La petite femme et ses enfants 121
Bêtes en cage et bêtes en liberté 183
MAYENNE, IMPRIMERIE CHARLES COLIN
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