TL Under Construction

The second chapter of Barell’s text, Developing Curious Minds, examines how to cultivate inquisitiveness. He suggests that there are ‘dispositions that are related to inquisitiveness’ (Barell, 2003, p22) and that wonder, speculation and curiousity provide their foundations too. They are:

• an openness to mystery and novelty
• a willingness to take risks and make mistakes
• collaboration with others
• doubt/ healthy skepticism

He suggests that as educators working with children, we also want to cultivate:

• the confidence to speak up when it’s appropriate
• persistence in investigations – don’t give up quickly
• becoming observant
• the ability to reflect on what we know and do not know

He then asks the reader to think of other attitudes and skills that might be correlated with an inquisitive mind.

My response:

• willingness to look at something from different points of view/angles
• true brainstorming skills
• willingness to bounce ideas around with others/understanding that collective curiousity builds individual curiousity
• playfulness — a certain lighthearted attitude to wondering

I’m sure there must be more?