Post #21 – where the topic of obstacles as discussed
Sometime obstacles are put in our way on purpose, things that need to be overcome & negotiated. Take the recent development of the Tough Mudder races – challenges galore and lots of fun. Often though, we come against an obstruction that prevents us proceeding, something that frustrates our progress and holds us up. A way forward does not seem to exist. Just when things are going well, we are making progress toward a destination, we need to adjust and come to halt. Things are even worse if there are no signs explaining why we can’t go further, it’s all we can do not to give up.
What do we do when we come up against something blocking our path and our progress is checked? Do we look around and seek ways to circumvent the barrier, or do we give up and turn back. What about when we’re learning, when we just can’t find the solution or don’t understand a concept. We need something to progress and we feel lost and helpless. What do we do then? Have you had student stat just don’t seem to get it, or have some learning problem that prevent success. These are frustrating times and can effect self esteem and confidence, but are we aware of them? Do we acknowledge that these barriers exist and allow for them, can we adjust the activity or the assessment to remove a potential/particular obstruction to learning?
It is worth considering though, when we are forced to stop, that it may be useful to think about why we are held up. There may be a good reason we don’t know about, it may actually be dangerous and unsafe to proceed. It’s not a bad thing to take the time to assess the situation and weigh it up in the balance of the larger picture. Are the alternatives?
How often do you come up against barriers, and how do you respond?
Locked door
Word of the Day is, ‘epithalamion’ – wedding song
Tags: blogjune