[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

RE: [xmca] Culture & Rationality

Martin, I think that your view on Olson is consistent with Nystrand's and Cazden's critiques. I have referenced Nystrand on this point many times, especially his 1986 book but also a shorter article version, whose abstract is available at http://wcx.sagepub.com/content/6/1/66.abstract. p

-----Original Message-----
From: xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu [mailto:xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu] On Behalf Of Martin Packer
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2012 3:15 PM
To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
Subject: Re: [xmca] Culture & Rationality

Two thoughts about Olson's work. First, the research he reports that explored at what age children begin to differentiate what is *said* from what is *meant* is open, isn't it, to the classic objection that he has confounded age with years of schooling. Does anyone know of similar research with non-schooled kids?

Second, Olson says that writing makes possible the separation between what's said (what's written) and what's meant, and this leads to a new level of consciousness. Seems to me that writing presents kids with the *problem* that these two levels become separated (where in speech they coincide), and that what schools can provide is the intellectual tools (the meta-vocabulary) to help solve this problem. The texts don't do it alone; what's necessary is adults helping kids figure out the texts. 

Martin

On Jul 2, 2012, at 12:12 PM, Michael Glassman wrote:

> Hmmm, I do love chapter six.  And as Peter suggests this is one of the biggest questions in the US right now, and Vygotsky has always seemed extraordinarily prescient to me - almost an avatar (not the video game avatar, the Hindu avatar). So this is an important issue.
> 
> Michael
> 
> ________________________________
> 

__________________________________________
_____
xmca mailing list
xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca


__________________________________________
_____
xmca mailing list
xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca