Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id NAA13236 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 29 Sep 2000 13:53:39 +0100 Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745A55@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Memes and Education Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2000 13:50:52 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
I've debated with a friend of mine this issue of memes and education a few
times. I was thinking about Blackmore's notion that we tend to imitate
likeable people (or perhaps people we like?).
Since education is at least partly about trying to inculcate academic memes
into people, I wondered if that would be more successful if I made a
deliberate choice to be as friendly and accomodating as possible to
students- more so than normal, I hasten to add.
Unfortunately my friend suggested that my proposed test of this- to be
really nice to one seminar group, and normal to the other group and compare
results at the end of the semester- was probably unethical! (and not
scientific either, probably).
Interesting idea that education should be meme-free, but if ideas are at
least in part memes then why would you want to make education meme-free?
What's left to educate people about- especially in the largely non-empirical
subjects of the humanities?
If anything I'd actually say the reverse, that education should be full of
memes- the crucial element being taught is that of critical thinking, giving
people the skills to evalute claims, ideas, evidence etc. in the most
effective way possible.
Of course, that depends on the teaching context- who's being taught, with
what goals in mind,and who's paying for it!
Sorry, butting in, feel free to ignore.
Vincent
> ----------
> From: Bruce Jones
> Reply To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Sent: Friday, September 29, 2000 1:38 pm
> To: 'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'
> Subject: RE: Memes and Education
>
> Wade:
> I am a little confused about your statement ...
> I may have used a personal term not recognized ...
> Stand-up delivery may be seen or known as:
> Traditional delivery, Lecture, "sage on stage", "professorial ego
> trip",
> "talking head", etc.
> The information provided by such a delivery method is very much up close
> and
> personal if properly designed and delivered. What the
> professor/instructor/teacher says is as important as what the same person
> does NOT say. The hidden linguistic value and the manner in which it is
> delivered can change a valuable lecture series into a waste of time,
> effort,
> and teaching opportunity. Another aspect of what is said and how it is
> presented is the impact on the future of the recipient. A well designed
> course and curriculum is useless if the delivering entity inserts either
> his
> or the States' philosophy by using subtle negative memes. To some extent
> education should be meme-less. Since this is not a possibility there
> should
> be some method for recognizing the development of adverse memetic content
> and counter acting the effects of such.
>
> And yes humor is a valuable teaching tool. Learners at all levels learn
> better when they are relaxed and attentive. Humor fulfills this
> requirement.
>
> Bruce Jones
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Wade T.Smith [SMTP:wade_smith@harvard.edu]
> > Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2000 5:21 PM
> > To: Memetics Discussion List
> > Subject: RE: Memes and Education
> >
> > Hi Bruce Jones --
> >
> > >I am however, a Staff Development Specialist and spend a lot
> > >of time developing course material for stand-up delivery ....
> >
> > Humor is a wonderful thing....
> >
> > - Wade
> >
> > ===============================================================
> > This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
> > Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
> > For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
> > see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
>
> ===============================================================
> This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
> Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
> For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
> see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
>
===============================================================
This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
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