The Optimal Mismatch
Chapter Twenty
Learning means growth.
Growth inherently means positive change.
Change in important things like capacity,
flexibility, and complexity mean migrating
from where you are – stretching yourself.
This is true of teachers and students alike –
actually everybody in all types of endeavors.
The problem to solve is
We can only jump so far up at a given time –
If learning requires too much of a leap, we are
frustrated – we are almost there, but --
If learning tasks require too little we can be
comfortable but – probably won’t grow –
We do best in a state where we are slightly
overmatched – we have to move upward –
but not so overmatched that we can’t adjust.
And so it is as we plan learning experiences for
or students.
If we plan so that they can keep on at their
current level, they won’t move upward.
If we ask too much, they can’t manage.
That’s the oxymoron of teaching!