“HOW WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW”

Using Emotions to Learn

Md. Mahbubul Haque OsmaniLecturer, MSJ, ULAB

Faculty LectureCurriculum Integration

Fall 2013

WHAT ARE EMOTIONS?Biologically driven , cross-cultural responses to environmental stimuli.

Human beings’ warning systems as to what is really going on around them.

Most reliable indicators of how things are going in our lives

WHAT ARE EMOTIONS?Help to keep us on the right track by making sure that we are led by more than cognition.

“Teaching and learning are not only concerned with knowledge, cognition and skill. They are also emotional practices.” (Hargreaves, 1998)

WHAT ARE EMOTIONS?Four most common emotions fear, anger, sadness, and joy.

WHAT ARE EMOTIONS?Plutchik (1980) distinguished among eight basic emotions: fear, anger, sorrow, joy, disgust, acceptance, anticipation, and surprise.

Ekman (1992) has focused on a set of from six to eight basic emotions that have associated facial expressions.

THE T OK DI AG RAM

EMOTIONAre emotions universal?Can/should we control our

emotions? Are emotions the enemy of, or

necessary for, good reasoning? Are emotions always linked to

belief?

EMOTIONThe Naturalistic View:Products of natural processesPhysiological causes and effects.

Darwin believed that emotions are purely physiological

Therefore universal and experienced across all cultures.

Ex: Chinese notion of “sad love”

WOULD BECOME SHAME FOR BANGLADESH

EMOTIONSocial Constructionists view:Argued that emotions depend on a social consciousness

Have no natural basis at all. Ex: emotions such as shame seem to assume a notion of right and wrong. Shame for Bangladeshi people is not shame for USA people.

MOTHER JUMPS FROM TOP FLOOR AFTER DAUGHTER DIES

LEARNING OBJECTIVES1.Emotions affect learning

2.Emotional intelligence

3.Creating emotionally safe learning environments

1. EMOTIONS AFFECT LEARNING

Emotions are complex states of mind and body, consisting of physiological, behavioral, and cognitive reactions to situations that can be managed and directed

Cognitively. individuals interpret an event as one that may be sad, dangerous, joyous, etc.

EMOTIONS….???

1. EMOTIONS AFFECT LEARNING

Physically. a sad situation may yield tears, or a dangerous situation might lead to an elevated heart rate.

Behaviorally. we may seek comfort when we are sad or run and seek help when we face danger.

It is critical to recognize the important link between emotions, thought, and action.

1. EMOTIONS AFFECT LEARNINGEx: students learn and perform more successfully when they feel secure, happy, and excited about the subject matter (Boekaerts, 1993; Oatly & Nundy, 1996).

HAPPY CLASSROOM

2. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE“intrapersonal” and “interpersonal” intelligences. (Gardner, 1993)

Intrapersonal intelligence: an awareness of one’s own feelings, motivations, and abilities.

Interpersonal intelligence: an awareness and understanding of other people and how to interact with them.

2. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCEFive skills involved in emotional intelligence (Goleman,1995)

1. Self-Awareness: ability to recognize one’s own feelings.

2. Managing Emotions: anger management, conflict resolution, and the skills needed to work cooperatively with others

2. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE3. Self-Motivation: ability to generate feelings of enthusiasm, zeal, confidence, and persistence

4. Empathy: ability to recognize emotions.

Teachers can foster empathy by encouraging students.

2. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE5. Handling Social Relationships“impulse control” is an important aspect of emotional intelligence

“A key ability in impulse control is knowing the difference between feelings and actions, and learning to make better emotional decisions by first controlling the impulse to act, then identifying alternative actions and their consequences before acting” (Goleman, 1995, p. 259).

3. CREATING EMOTIONALLY SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTSStudents can take risks, develop confidence, and grow emotionally and academically

Teachers can cultivate positive relationships with their students

Conveying respect and compassion for students, by listening carefully to them, and by responding to their needs and feelings