• Gathering Data Through all Senses

    GATHERING DATA THROUGH ALL SENSES

    What is it? – Allowing information into our brains from many senses and not just one or two.

    Sounds like – “I connected that to a color or smell.” That image helps me to…..” “ I can understand that better if I use my senses to….” “That smell reminds me of….” The picture I have in my brain is….”

    Looks like – Touching, Observing, Listening, Feeling, Tasting, Smelling

    Feels like – I can understand this better because I used my senses to explore it further.

    Intelligent people know that all information goes into the brain through sensory pathways: gustatory, olfactory, tactile, kinesthetic, auditory and visual. Most linguistic, cultural, and physical learning is derived from the environment by observing or taking it in through the senses. To know a dance it must be moved, to know a role it must be acted, to know a goal it must be envisioned. Those whose sensory pathways are open, alert, and acute will absorb more information from the environment than those who do not realize how to use their senses fully. We are learning more and more about the impact of art and music on improved mental functioning. Forming mental images is essential in mathematics and engineering. Other fields use a variety of senses to improve their work. Some students do not fully become aware of how to use their senses to gather data. These students benefit from learning about gathering data from all senses and in turn experience and enjoy life in a new way.

    “Observe perpetually”. Henry James

    Information on Habits of Mind are taken from the book Habits of Mind by Costa and Kallick.