Pedagogical Principle 2: Articulation

When you listen to a lecture, or read a paper, or think about some ideas, this creates an impression of understanding. At this point, the understanding is very shallow, or even non-existent . Greater Understanding is created by EXPLAINING the ideas you think you have understood to others. Deeper understanding is created when you can explain these ideas to people who do not know them, and create understanding within them (by TESTING to see if they have understood). Even deeper understanding is created when you can persuade others, holding different or contrary ideas, to change their views. The deepest level is when you learn to ACT upon the idea, and use it in your own life. This illustrates the central theme of the course - REAL knowledge changes lives - our lives and that of others who absorb this knowledge.

This is why our standard lecture based courses are highly inadequate for creating understanding in students. The students only listen to lectures, and do not really get a chance to engage with the substance in their own words, and on their own terms. They do not get any opportunity to USE the educational materials in their own lives, because Western knowledge is not generally concerned with how we should live, and how we should act in our daily lives. Islamic knowledge is centrally concerned with changing human lives for the better, via Amr Bil Maaroof - Inviting towards the good. This requires understanding good ideas, and EXPLAINING them to others in an attractive fashion. Making ideas easy to understand and follow is an essential part of Islamic knowledge. Making sure that the ideas being taught in classes are USEFUL, is also an essential part of an Islamic education. For more material regarding this, see My Journey from Theory to Reality. (Optional Reading).

APPLICATION: In order to apply this principle to enhance learning in this course, all participants should DISCUSS the readings in their email groups. To get a good discussion focus on ONE POINT at one time. Try to extract the MOST IMPORTANT idea from the reading and then express it as simply and clearly as you can, in your own words. AFTER expressing the idea, you should write down your response - arguments in favor of it or against it, Also relate the idea to your own life experiences. After discussing the readings within the group, group leaders should post a summary of this discussion on the Islamic WorldView Blog as a comment on the post (use Group Name to identify the source of the comment). A more detailed account of the arguments and discussions within the group can be posted on the new Wordpress Blog which has been created by the Group for this purpose. Other people, outsiders, can also be invited to participate in the discussion on the group blog.