Teaching "Consciousness" at the Lower Division Level
Anthropology of Consciousness March 1, 1996 DOI: 10.1525/ac.1996.7.1.10 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Practical guide or manual Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that detailed academic debates about definitions of consciousness are poorly suited to introductory college students, who lack the background to appreciate the divergence of opinion. Proposes supplementing traditional teaching with techniques that help students appreciate the diversity of their own experiences, opening them to the "panoramas" within their minds. |
Abstract
The often esoteric nature of dialogues about "consciousness" which take place in academic circles stands far removed from treatments of the same topic in lower division college classrooms. There, any detailed discussion of the various definitions which have been advanced for this term is likely to lead to frustration on the part of students who have not yet attained the requisite knowledge for appreciating this divergence of opinions. When teaching classes to introductory students, instructors can provide opportunities for students to appreciate the diversity of their own experiences in addition to using more traditional pedagogic methods. In this paper, the author will describe several of the techniques which he has found useful in opening students up to the various panoramas within their minds.