Re: cognitive apprenticeship
vera p john-steiner (vygotsky who-is-at unm.edu)
Sun, 18 Jan 1998 09:10:17 -0700 (MST)
Dear Richard and Kevin,
I think the common dynamic of apprenticeships with experts is -as you
imply- the opportunity of the less experienced learner to observe
the process (some of it even out of the consciousness of the expert)
that he/she engaes in. The difference between a tailor's work and that of
the composer may be in the amount of covert planning, exploration etc.
on the part of the latter. Novices, if encouraged, ask good questions
which contribute to the systematization of the expert's own knowledge.
I thimk these issues are relevant to Gordon's recent important posting
about theoretical knowledge. The latter needs a place-holder, a rea-
diness to go beyond the inferences drawn from practice. Tutorial
interactions do provide important gains for learners--and the experts do
not need to be famous composers. I would be grateful for any write-up by
you Richard on the situations you have observed as music will be an
important forcus of my chapter on Collaboration across generations.
Thanks,
Vera
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Vera P. John-Steiner
Department of Linguistics
Humanities Bldg. 526
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
(505) 277-6353 or 277-4324
Internet: vygotsky who-is-at unm.edu
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