A Whole New Mind

Today, a post about the book, "A Whole New Mind" by Dan Pink.

Left Brain/Right Brain - what does it mean?.  The author reviews common misconceptions, then distills the difference down to 4 points:

1. The left side of the brian controls the right side of the body, the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body.
2. The left brain is sequential, the right brain is simultaneous. 
3. The left brain specialises in text, the right side brain in context. 
4. The left brain looks at details; the right brain looks at the big picture.

So what? I hear you ask!  The book strongly argues that up until now typically LEFT BRAIN skills have been valued in business, that is:

• Systems 
• Analysis 
• Data 
• Details 
• Sequential thinking 
• Categories 

But the book argues that these skills are still important BUT it is the skills categorised by the RIGHT BRAIN that are the new essentials for success.  That is: 

• Relationships
• Synthesis 
• Big picture 
• Parallel thinking 

Here is Dan Pink speaking, he explains the key concepts in a 20 minute video.  

@ Yahoo! Video

For those with iPods go to the PopTech site where you can download the video and watch it at your leisure.

The book then introduces six essential Right Brain aptitudes required for the 'new' world.  They are:

1. Not just function but also DESIGN.  
2. Not just argument but also STORY. 
3. Not just focus but also SYMPHONY.  
4. Not just logic but also EMPATHY.  
5. Not just seriousness but also PLAY. 
6. Not just accumulation but also MEANING. 

So, if Dan Pink is correct, (let's assume for a moment that he is) do our learning environments and course design support this 'new' emphasis?  The answer is, no they do not!  Learning and education is stuck pretty fast in a step-by-step 'left brain' approach.

What can you do? Well, that's part of the aim of this blog!  Always focussing upon bringing together ideas from anywhere to improve learning effectiveness.