Polymath or Generalist learning is when the individual has knowledge of multiple fields, in contrast with Mastery or Specialist learning which consists on being able to domain a single field of knowledge.
The idea behind the question argues that in modern day with the fast development of technology, the need for specalists will progressively decrease causing the current teaching philosophy in higher education, to teach a single career for the student to excel in a determined field, to become obsolete and unsustainable. Instead, a polymath learning approach would encourage diversity in the students skills allowing for it to innovate various fields of knowledge and being able to participate in more than a single specialised career.
- How do you believe the inclusion of this learning approach would affect the profesional development of the student?
- What benefits or disadvantages would this inclusion bring?
- Do you have any experience with this approach at higher education? what were the outcomes?
Thank you very much for you contributions.
Learning remains as it is but certainly benefits from modern technologies
This is a very good question Eric. My response is that it is always plausible to focus on a single field to become an expect. However, the 21st century hinges on four very pivotal skills which student in higher education must possess. These four skills can be siphoned from any field depending on how they have been integrated into the curriculum. Hence, polymath learning may not be that necessary.
A very insightful question. We can adopt a middle of the road approach. Accordingly, the education should begin with a polymath approach whereby learners are exposed to various fields and are closely watched and evaluated in terms of the targeted goals and then they should be guided into the field they indicated the best performance. Therefore, the polymath phase can act as a kind of screening providing a cost effective tunneling where learners follow their most favourable field of study .
A very good question. On balance I would argue that an approach from a polymath orientation would seem to be most expedient in the present climate of rapid technological change. this, however, has to be predicated upon an additional assumption. Does the learner have the capacity and the curiosity to be able to explore different fields simultaneously. Mastery can be both more achievable and less stressful. the "polymath" is likely to be someone with both more interest and creativity and curiosity and able to achieve mastery in several areas. That, however, poses a question for the current assumptions that underlie education at secondary and tertiary levels, that there is a widespread equality of ability. It is not difficult to assemble evidence that such assumptions are seriously flawed.
The key to any education is always to develop transferability of either knowledge and skills or the ability to acquire these. Therefore developing generic process skills is going to be more important than specific knowledge.
Mastery is only going to be really effective if part of it (as should be the case) involves having the generic skills that would allow subsequent mastery in a different area. How different this area should or could be is open to discussion.
A generalist polymath approach will only be effective if it also includes the generic skills that would subsequently allow mastery in a specific area. Ultimately we need people who can have more than a smattering of knowledge and skills.
That's a good question, but I am not sure that there is only one answer ! The ability to master polymath approach is different from the ability to concentrate on deepening a speciality, and a student may be able to do both (scarcely), or to be a good generalist only, or to be a good specialist only, or to have problems in both... The purpose of education is to put the students in the situation where they can developpe their best part, and afterwards meet the needs of employment, which are various, and enjoy their professional life. Give them opportunities to be good with their own profile whatever it is.
So very thoughtful. In my opinion, these are the questions that need asking, because they are implanting the very idea of being a polymath learner. I would agree 100%, with technology constantly being developed and evolved, that the need for specialised skills in certain areas is becoming a thing of the past. In my life thus far, I've strived to seek knowledge in whatever topic may interest me at the time. I've gone through quite a few 'stages' in terms of my scientific interests, and as a result, I know lots of little things about lots of different things. And in some ways, the knowledge I have does feel somewhat abstract. However, in tricky situations (ones I often face in my field of work; civil construction), my knowledge and my ideas often prove to be of high value for problem solving.
Learning remains as it is but certainly benefits from modern technologies
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