Teaching and Learning Covenants

Dr. K. Sankaran

A. What is Learning?
1. Learning is a human need and the most exciting of all human activities. You only have to watch children grow up to know what this statement means. Seeking, exploring, discovering are in themselves transformative.
2. Teacher and students are alike in that they are both learners who have come together with some defined roles.
3. In this sense, learning is the responsibility of the learners. The most powerful and enduring lessons are taught not by instructors, but Self as Nature. In this sense, learning is “available” to everyone anytime. Learning is a continuous process of seeking, exploring and discovering – a process which, inside the classroom and outside it, is nurtured by the instructor.

B. Self as Nature
1. Self as Nature has a deep meaning. It is a state to be experienced. Roughly it means oneself to be in tune with nature while at the same time being in a state of highest human aspiration.
2. A genuine instructor is a product of Self as Nature, chiseled by previous instructors.
3. Instructor provides a field for his or her students conducive to self-development and discovery.
4. The responsibility of the instructor is elevating everyone in the class to a level of greater understanding, greater sensitivity, greater reflection and greater effectiveness to live life fully and contribute to their own contexts (family, society, job, profession, organization they would be working for, country or humanity).

C. Instructor and Learner
1. The words “Instructor” and “Learner” designate roles.
2. That person in the role of an instructor is likely to be only marginally more knowledgeable than those in that of learners.
3. Just as learners learn from the instructor, the instructor also learns from learners.
4. The best knowledge has already been said. That does not mean that there are limits to our own knowledge.

D. Moments of Discovery
1. Learning consists of allowing for Moments of Discovery (of self, of colleagues, of instructor, of author, of the material… of everyone and everything participating in the teaching-learning process). A series of Moments of Discovery add up to demonstrable, measurable knowledge (in the context of classroom expectations) besides developing a healthy positive attitude.
2. Moments of Discovery happen not only individually, but also collectively.

E. Grades and Exams
1. Grades may not reflect the actual capacity or competence of the learners.
2. Grades measure the ability of learners to place answers cleverly within the context of exams and other “points of evaluation”.
3. An instructor tries to match up the actual capacity and competence of learners with the evaluation tools and procedures available to her or him. However much an instructor tries there are limitations to grading systems because they are, by nature, judgmental.
4. Whatever the demerits of grading systems, they are still indispensable. So are avenues for testing; exams, quizzes and so on.

F. Dialogue in the Class
1. Questions that clarify issues for oneself are the best questions. These questions emerge from thinking through and reflecting upon problems and opportunities.
2. A good question presupposes some amount of previous thinking through.
3. Without sufficient thinking questions would be simply be questions that emerge from others’ doubts.
4. Even such questions that emerge from others’ doubts are not necessarily unhelpful. They may contribute to collective learning.
5. But these cannot substitute “own” questions.

G. Application of Knowledge
1. Ultimately all knowledge would be applied to a purpose: better knowledge would ultimately lead to a happier, happier others etc. In the context of management education, it may also increase efficiency of a group of employees, allow for more effective better organization of people etc.
2. It is always useful to keep what purpose(s) is being served by the knowledge gained in the class. This will keep the learning process focused.
3. One of the characteristics of true knowledge acquisition is do this with the awareness of having to serve different purposes simultaneously. For instance, efficiency plus environmental friendliness, customer plus shareholder plus other stakeholder, employee orientation plus effectiveness etc.
4. The more pluses (as above) you see create, the better it would be for yourself and others.
5. When one is clear about the purpose, application of knowledge to practical situations becomes effortless. A new flexibility in your ability to apply knowledge emerges.

H. We are Standing on the Shoulder of Giants
1. As stated earlier, greatest knowledge has already been stated. Any thought otherwise on the part of instructor or student is hubris.
2. This does not mean there isn’t something called plagiarism. Plagiarism is parading someone else’s tangible/ expressed work as if it’s one’s own.
3. Giving references is a pleasurable and noble act, because in that act one is finding and acknowledging kindred souls. After all we are all social beings! Knowledge realm is not solitary. It also has a social angle.

I. Attendance in the Class has many Ramifications
1. One obvious reason for students to regularly attend classes to is gain knowledge in the specific domain that the course deals with. But there other reasons.
2. Those who do not attend classes may do disservice to the rest of the class by creating “breaks” in the class. The group has to go back time and again to what has already been discussed. Not attending classes is a subtle, but damaging sort of disruption.
3. Further, the best learning occurs not only because of books and ‘static’ media of knowledge, but because of the dynamic interaction that takes place in the class with fellow students and instructor.
4. It is not difficult to see that the same ideas apply to coming late in the class.

Knowlegde Entrepreneurship

Issues in Knowledge Entrepreneurship include

1. Getting the students to own the learning process
2. Getting the teachers to be intellectual entrepreneurs
3. Getting education to be more inclusive
4. Getting private enterprises to champion high-end knowledge generation that contributes to overall social wellbeing
5. Ensuring economic self sustainability of high-end knowledge activity
6. Coming up with new business models for knowledge activity etc. etc.

This will requires, among others,

1. New learning models
2. Innovative use of technology
3. New learning and teaching attitudes and cultures

All the articles here carry this spirit

Challenging MBA Pedagogy
http://docs.google.com/View?docid=ajb8vdkpj948_0c2dq2f

MBA Education and Reflective Minds
http://docs.google.com/View?docid=ajb8vdkpj948_1gggxtj

Dichotomized vs. Dialectical Thinking in Management
http://docs.google.com/View?docid=ajb8vdkpj948_2gp3htv

MBA promotes Perpetrating Action or Transforming Action?
http://docs.google.com/View?docid=ajb8vdkpj948_5dn2nn5

Knowledge Resource Requires a New Treatment for the New MBAs
http://docs.google.com/View?docid=ajb8vdkpj948_6cq2nkc

Referencing: An Important Etiquette in the Knowledge Society
http://docs.google.com/View?docid=ajb8vdkpj948_8fthktf

Language as Instrument versus Language as Reality
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ajb8vdkpj948_9fr2rtd

Conceptual Self versus Existential Self
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ajb8vdkpj948_10hc78sb

Case Methodology: Articles that Urge its Cautious Use

Empirical Virtuosity: A drag on Management Teaching
http://docs.google.com/View?docid=ajb8vdkpj948_3gwn84w

Use Cases Differently in the Internet World
http://docs.google.com/View?docid=ajb8vdkpj948_4pz69n


Regulation of Higher Education

Competencies for Regulating Higher Education in India
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=ajb8vdkpj948_17hpdv7fhh&hl=en

Copyright Laws and Plagiarism

Commonly Asked Questions of Referencing
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ajb8vdkpj948_18dcsz97dr

Challenging Dominant Pedagogical Givens in Management Education

Abstract

This paper challenges eight “givens” that seem to form the dominant pedagogical worldview held by students and academics alike in management. While experience and reflection of the author is the foundation of this paper, it is buttressed by thoughts and findings expressed by scholars and thinkers from diverse fields. These eight “givens” are posed along with alternatives that fit with what a knowledge society demands resulting in eight dialectics. These ideas were presented at the Annual Conference of the Society for Business Ethics, Atlanta, Georgia, US in August 2006.

The eight dialectics are

Prescriptive vs. Descriptive
Seeking others’ examples vs. Seeking own theories
Dichotomized vs. Dialectical thinking
Perpetrating Action vs. Transforming Action
Knowledge getting expended on supply vs. Knowledge enhancing on sharing
Referencing: Begrudged recognition vs. Finding kindred souls
Language as instrument vs. Language as reality
Conceptual Self vs. Existential self


This paper is meant to trigger reflection and deeper discussion on Pedagogical assumptions and practices in management education. While the paper is “shaped” by management education, it is hoped that the insights gained here have application to other areas of higher education, and through a “backward domino effect”, on early education pedagogies too.


Key words: Management Pedagogy, Critical Pedagogy Challenging Certain Pedagogical Givens in MBA Education


It is cliché to state that we are entering a new age where old assumptions are constantly being challenged. But, perhaps, it is no cliché to state that the area where the challenge is most trying is “education”, the simple reason being that the educational arena is where the most intangible, and yet the most powerful, of all resources (human knowledge) reconditions, redefines, recreates, and entirely reshapes human beings.

And today’s educational efforts cannot be free from the techno-social context in which we operate. How do we prepare our students to take on the challenges in a world where their values, cognitive means, thoughts and will are all being constantly shaped and defined by bionic men and women, cyber artefacts, object-oriented lingo, seamless communication, and unimaginably new forms of stimuli and response demands?

Briefly, and most generally, we see three dominant forms of responses. Deliberately I sharply the differences amongst them to highlight the extreme points to view to drive the point home:

a) The first group of individuals responds to these changes with nostalgia towards the past and scorn towards the future. This fatalistic group may, typically, invoke theories of “Pralaya” to believe for themselves (and make efforts to convince others) the futility of human endeavour that has produced, and is producing, the kind of changes we are now being seized with.
b) The second response is one of scorn for the wisdom of the past. For this group all solutions of mankind would be technological. A corollary of such thinking is that human values are entirely contract-based, ethics is purely relativistic and technology shall emancipate humans.
c) The third typical response understands that we need to break from the past; a past that was conditioned by instincts of power grabbing, communication through rhetoric rather than reason, pandering to human fears and the justification of the use of force. It also admits that there are huge difficulties with most alternatives that have been conjured up by us, we humans. It admits of the limitations we have placed on ourselves, but ultimately believes that humans are transitional beings (Sri Aurobindo, 1952) with an evolutionary future in them.

Objectives

It seems that responsible education should now shift focus from getting students to think, act and feel the “right” way, to seeking ways that will make students taking “ownership” for their education. This would mean a self-driven approach towards learning wherein the students feel deeply that is something in here (the university, college and the campus) that should be worked upon eagerly and passionately that will help him/her in life to be fuller and happier individuals and social beings. For this we need to

a) Create a climate of greater intellectual excitement where discovering, creating and re-creating oneself, others, and the world around, become a passion.
b) Encourage a more holistic/ integrative approach to learning so that student can bring to bear what he/she learnt to the task of living and working (and in fact, being oneself and being a social entity) well after leaving formal education.

This will require a tremendous amount of a) intellectual freedom b) hard work, c) self-discipline and d) maturity on the part of students. And, as educators, we have to provide the direction, guidance and an enlightened space within which such freedoms, potentiality identification, character and skills development would blossom.

In short, the efforts of educators would be to influence and mould student action and reflection to liberate the young minds from the prisons that have been erected by societal conformism where the locus of control lay outside the person.

What are the governing aspects of this malaise? In paper identifies eight of them. Each of these is presented with the possible shift that should take place to move away from conformist education. For instance, the first one is about prescriptive vs. descriptive. This paper posits that there has been an excessive prescriptive orientation and the “pendulum” should now swing more towards the descriptive. And so on with the other seven points.

1: Prescriptive vs. Descriptive

Management learning has sunken to being generally viewed as a series of prescriptive guidelines. There is inadequate ability and appreciation of description. On the other hand, education should encourage the student towards seeing reality, the world out there, in greater clarity and help him or her represent (describe) it in terms of symbols - language or mathematics - in a better way. Education is a constant process of creating and recreating the symbols to match (as best as possible since the reality cannot be the symbol itself) the reality out there. After all no description can ultimately match the richness of reality and all human efforts are knowledge gathering, irrespective of discipline, admits of multiple reality. (McWhinney, 1997)

Excessive preoccupation with the “prescriptive” is a sign of expediency, impatience and treatment of the student as “the other” whose job is to only “do as I tell you.” The prescriptive mindset, which the student imbibes, would spill out to their practices in industry too.

Freire (1970) says, “Every prescription represents the imposition of one individual’s choice upon the other, transforming the consciousness of the person prescribed into one that conforms the prescriber’s consciousness.”

There has to be model-building efforts such as in Operations Research with one clear optimal solution. Certainly, given certain conditions, there are rational ways to arrive at optimal solutions that do not vary across decision-makers. Such models are useful in the right hands but we should be aware of the potential of models and theories that generate convergent thinking to become vehicles for reinforcing the prescriptive mind-set. We should not miss opportunities to convey to the students that these models are only a few among many descriptive possibilities.

The sharp distinction made here between the “prescriptive” and the “descriptive” is only to highlight the relative neglect of the latter. The two should actually be complementary. Ideally, managers have to start with the descriptive and move onto the prescriptive. Corner (1997) explains how decision-makers should start with the descriptive and then move on to the prescriptive.

2: Seeking others’ examples vs. seeking own theories

There is a tendency on the part of the student to “seek others’ examples” rather than “seek own theory”. He or she values information rather than “meta-understanding” from the information.

By seeking the so-called practical example, the student obtains a surface confirmation for the argument on hand in the class, but misses out on how the “variables” in reality work amongst themselves, and makes sense to oneself. In the final analysis, value of education lies in creating rich conceptualisations of reality as models with the modeller having the flexibility to tweak these models when new data comes in. This argument ties in with the what Hatano and Inagaki (1992) tell us. For them true learning happens only when cognition has been “desituated” through construction of conceptual knowledge.

In seeking others examples and not working out (in the mind) the theory behind the phenomenon, the student implicitly treats knowledge as context-free. Unless the mind works out the logic of why an event took place, there is no real learning. Without understanding the underlying logic, learning through anecdotal stories may correspond to sitting in front of a TV with a rabid rhetorician holding the viewer hostage... intellectually speaking!

3: Dichotomized vs. Dialectical thinking

In emphasizing management decision making, reinforced by the nature of the decision-making models that we bring into the classroom, we are inadvertently reinforcing an “OR” mentality, or dichotomised thinking. A mind trained exclusively on the decision-making paradigm precludes possibilities of “this AND that” or dialectical thinking. Examples of the AND thinking that have generated useful idea in management (that now has become truisms) are several; for instance, that a firm simultaneously, and without conflict, can serve the customer AND the shareholder, or that growth and stability could BOTH be had at the same time. This is the essence of entrepreneurial thinking (Zander & Zander, 2000) which applies irrespective of the objectives (whether for material gains, super-ordinate goal fulfilment or something else) pursued.

For creating solutions to new problems, a healthy “AND” mentality is most useful. It brings in appreciation of variety, healthy attitude towards pluralism and it generates an inclusive mind-set. When we look carefully we also can see that dichotomised thinking precludes the student from seeing shades of grey, or in other words, seeking “intrapolative” solutions.

There is also the issue of creativity. While creativity would be touted as out-of-box thinking (some kind of lip service), there is, as it is, plenty of scope for “intrapolative thinking” that would generate interesting solutions. This can come only with dialectical thinking that incorporates, as much as humanly possible, the benefits of both “extremes.”

“AND” thinking does not mean being able to achieve both ends all the time. “AND” thinking or dialectical thinking is “the thought before purposive action” wherein one is opening up to the possibility of BOTH ends happening together. It involves appreciation of historical progression aided by human intention and intervention; for instance, progression of firm’s responsibility towards different stakeholders as a continuum from the historical shareholder to include the customer too, and further on to the employee, then to the environment etc.

4: Perpetrating Action vs. Transforming Action

Perpetrating action seeks not to disturb the status quo while transforming action busts the boundaries. Perpetrating action is acutely conscious of the boundary (roles of persons, their political power, resource constraints etc.). Transforming action is sharply targeted on results.

Perpetrating action is inward looking while transforming action is outward looking. Perpetrating thinking and action neatly circumscribes situations into prisons of constraints while transforming action challenges existing constraints and moves on to achieve results.

The circumscribing nature of existing pedagogy is apparent in the way students use some of the models in projects etc. For instance, in many assignments we see students trying to neatly fit a theory to the reality they are supposed to describe. In other words, reality viewing is circumscribed by the model or theory on hand. The student does not see the model as yet another way to further understand the confusing reality out there. Used wrongly, theory is an instrument for suffocation. Perhaps when we overemphasize the precise use of models we are forcing our students to think with blinkers. This may inadvertently be forcing our students towards a habit of choosing abstract models and mechanically applying them to situations, which finally, be promoting boundary-respecting thinking and action.

Implications on risk averseness, entrepreneurship and getting things done under adverse circumstances etc. are obvious. Fortunately, in some quarters there is awareness of the limitations of old mental models that perpetrate the status quo [See Turner (2000).]

5: Knowledge getting expended on supply vs. Knowledge enhancing on sharing

All true learnings are ultimately about a) development from within and b) greater ability to negotiate with the environment. These goals are lost out while treating knowledge as commodity. One way to overcome this problem is to get students to spend more time on mind-expanding activities rather than techniques acquisition. The argument is that with an expanded mindset, skills will automatically be acquired when occasion demands. While we can’t take this idea beyond a certain point, it is quite clear that, at present, the importance attached to techniques is excessive.

Mind expansion that seeks to share knowledge and sees knowledge expanding on sharing will have positive impact on the ability to give and take in group projects, and by extension, in development of team skills. A commoditised view of knowledge seriously hampers the development and nurturance of knowledge-based social systems.

6: Referencing: Begrudged recognition vs. finding kindred souls

We need to convince students that while writing papers etc. referencing should not a matter of begrudged recognition but a process of finding kindred souls who are thinking in a manner akin to oneself.

We need to convey that intellectually getting a handle on anything is a difficult pursuit and that in assignments even if the students can come with a very small new angle (or even nothing new) it is still worthy of something. By educating the students on how to reference and write a decent paper we will be conveying a strong message. At least for some, writing from “within” rather than copy from here and there should become second nature.

One cannot but recall the acknowledgement graciously bestowed by the celebrated Harvard scholar, Lin Yutang (1937) upon the friendly squirrel that regularly darts by at the place where the author did most of his writing of the book, “Importance of Living.” Not all persons may show such sensitivity, but a certain recognition would make the pursuit of knowledge (and actions) much more worthwhile. Who can forget Albert Einstein’s words, “If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants.”

7: Language as instrument vs. Language as reality

I think management educators, in the name of practicality, have unwittingly reduced language as pure instruments for communication. In this view, language is something “outside” oneself that has only advocacy value. We have to get the students to understand that language is, in fact, reality itself. Through words we develop our own conception of reality and that reality is the truest reality for everyone of us.

Communication is only a small aspect of language. Its sense-making role has to be re-emphasised (Weick, 1979; Morgan, 1998)

There are major implications. For instance, we could conclude that while Power Point slides are useful to triggers in a presentation, it cannot substitute language. Excessive emphasis on presentation sends the signal that form is everything and that in Management knowledge is reductionistic. The pain and joy of constructing images with uniquely human endowments, of crafting possibilities with the aid of language and symbols, and of creating culturally-enduring long-term consequences may simply be overlooked.

8: Conceptual Self vs. Existential Self

Conceptual self (Neisser, 1997) is the “rational actor” in social situations, who is driven mainly by normative orientation (Gone, et al, 1999). It corresponds to the role and image ascribed to the individual (by oneself and influenced by others). This self is in constant interaction with others belonging to various social groups. The consistency in roles and images brings stability to social situations. Give and take are expected of, developed and completed, based upon the conceptual self. Excessive preoccupation with only the conceptual self brings about an excessive preoccupation with judgment, evaluation, playing the “politically correct”, playing the martyr, playing the victimised, playing the contrarian etc.

As opposed to this, the existential self (Kotarba et al, 1987) is a bundle of subjective experience of the person concerned. In the individual, the rational and the non-rational mix lending subjective meanings to situations the individual faces. The world out there may be anything, but it is the experience of the individual persons that bring authenticity to the experience. In other words, the essence of the collective reality is nothing but the subjective experience of the individuals. The American Indian poet sought the understanding of the existential self through the following”

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meetingyour heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for dreams, for the adventure of being alive.
……..
(The Invitation, inspired by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Native American Elder, May 1994; Quoted from SQ: Spiritual Intelligence the Ultimate Intelligence by Danah Zohar and Ian Marshall)

Both the conceptual and existential selves have to co-exist in harmony so that a healthy mix of what is and what ought to be are present in communication and social exchanges. These two apparently opposing realities (or indeed, selves) require nourishment and encouragement in education. It appears the latter is forgotten in most of our educational endeavours.

Let us see how the idea applies to the lives of aspiring MBAs. Take the “Objectives” Section of Placement Application Form of some MBA students. Everyone of the students talks about the “contribution” he or she would make to the organization etc. while there would normally be no discussion on what oneself aspires. It appears that despite all inputs on psychology etc. there is little discussions possible vis-à-vis the existential self. I believe this lack of opportunity for self-specific discussions is true within and outside classrooms too.

Individual aspirations, and dreams (nay, individual differences and angularities themselves) are things to be discussed and appreciated within oneself and in others. This requires unveiling the real self. One of the purposes of education is to provide an arena for such unveiling. Open discussion about oneself can generate awareness and bring out conflicts that each one of us lives with.

This is what liberation education should do; let individuals articulate themselves better. We will not be creating more selfish persons this way. We would be creating, on the other hand, self-confident and tolerant individuals. Not letting off the steam of existential secrets creates pathological self-absorption.

Lack of focus on “self” in any deep sort of way has major implications for managerial actions and performance. For instance, in negotiations those with such hesitations would be unable to fully conceptualise their true needs and communicate them effectively. This may unnecessarily break down negotiations.

Ability to respect and shift focus on to existential self when required has also implications on individual autonomy, maintenance of internal locus of control, self-confidence, learning abilities and positive attitude towards oneself and others.

Concluding Remarks

Education is a life-long process that should liberate humans from the bondage imposed by habits and hubris. This has been the challenge of education in the past and will continue to be so in future. However, the elements that will need to be addressed would change from time to time. We are at a threshold of epochal changes, and as management educators we have to embrace positive change brought about by post-industrialism and information technology. There is no way to do this than by questioning the existing fundamentals that have long outlived their usefulness, identifying alternatives and working proactively on them.

References

Corner, J.L. 1997. “Teaching Decision Analysis.” Interfaces - 27:6, Nov-Dec, Page 131-139.

Freire, Paulo, 1970. “Pedagogy of the Oppressed.” Penguin, London.

Gone, J.P., P.J. Miller, & J. Rappaport,1999. Conceptual Self an normatively Oriented: The Suitability of Past Personal Narrative for the Study of Cultural Identity” Culture and Psychology - Vol. 5(4).

Hatano, Giyoo & Kayoko Inagaki, 1992. “Desituating Cognition through the Construction of Conceptual Knowledge.” In P. Light & G. Butterworth (Eds.) Context and Cognition: Ways of knowing and learning, Pages: 115-133. New York: Harvester.

Kotarba, J.A., A. Fontana, S. M. Lyman, 1987. The Existential Self in Society, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

McWinney, W. 1997. Paths of Change: Strategic Choices for Organisations and Society. London: Sage Publications.

Morgan, G., 1998. Images of Organizations. London: Sage Publications.
Neisser,U & D.A. Jopling, 1997. The Conceptual Self in Context: Culture Experience Self Understanding, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Sri Aurobindo, 1972. “The Life Divine.” Sabda Press, Podicherry.

Weick, K. E., 1979. The Social Psychology of Organising. New York: Random House.

Yutang, Lin, 1998. The Importance of Living. William Morrow & Co: Lee, NH, USA. Originally published in 1937.

Zander, Rosamund, S & Benjamin Zander, 2000 “The Art of the Possible; Transforming Professional and Personal Lives.” Harvard Business Press: Boston, USA.