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I love this article: https://deansforimpact.org/why-mythbusting-fails-a-guide-to-influencing-education-with-science/ https://deansforimpact.org/why-mythbusting-

by svat 8y ago

I love this article: https://deansforimpact.org/why-mythbusting-fails-a-guide-to-influencing-education-with-science/ https://deansforimpact.org/why-mythbusting-fails-a-guide-to-... (“Why mythbusting fails: A guide to influencing education with science”) Narrowly, it's about “learning styles”, the idea that certain students are e.g. “visual learners” and would benefit from education geared towards visual learners. But more broadly, it's about science in general, about persuasion. In its second half (starting at “Is there any hope for change?”), it outlines an excellent approach for dealing with such cases — or really, any disagreements between people. Failure to follow a similar approach may feel good in the short term, but usually has tragic consequences. And if it can happen with educated teachers, it can of course happen with flat-earth believers.

svat 8y ago
This will be controversial, but IMO also related is Jan Assmann's work on “monotheism” (a poor term, as what's intended here includes atheism, as polytheists generally understand): the prevailing meme in (especially) Western culture that “the truth to be proclaimed comes with an enemy to be fought” — i.e. too much concern about what is “true” and wariness about people happening to believe in untruth, regardless of their actions. (The fact that this is on the front page of Hacker News is itself evidence.) This leads to certain… problems.
scarejunba 8y ago
I thought this “visual learner” vs other kind thing failed to replicate. Example of article listing some sources: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/04/the-myth-of-learning-styles/557687/ https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/04/the-myth...
- svat 8y ago
  Yes, that's what the article I linked is about. (Specifically, a letter which led to headlines like “Teachers must ditch 'neuromyth' of learning styles, say scientists”.) I see that similar articles (thanks for your link) continue to be published in 2018, which I guess proves that no one took notice or heeded the advice.
  - scarejunba 8y ago
    Oh, I misunderstood what your summary was. I thought you said that the reason myths don’t take hold is that the learning style doesn’t match the myth busting style. Never mind then!

by svat 8y ago

svat 8y ago

This will be controversial, but IMO also related is Jan Assmann's work on “monotheism” (a poor term, as what's intended here includes atheism, as polytheists generally understand): the prevailing meme in (especially) Western culture that “the truth to be proclaimed comes with an enemy to be fought” — i.e. too much concern about what is “true” and wariness about people happening to believe in untruth, regardless of their actions. (The fact that this is on the front page of Hacker News is itself evidence.) This leads to certain… problems.

scarejunba 8y ago

I thought this “visual learner” vs other kind thing failed to replicate. Example of article listing some sources: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/04/the-myth-of-learning-styles/557687/ https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/04/the-myth...

svat 8y ago
Yes, that's what the article I linked is about. (Specifically, a letter which led to headlines like “Teachers must ditch 'neuromyth' of learning styles, say scientists”.) I see that similar articles (thanks for your link) continue to be published in 2018, which I guess proves that no one took notice or heeded the advice.
- scarejunba 8y ago
  Oh, I misunderstood what your summary was. I thought you said that the reason myths don’t take hold is that the learning style doesn’t match the myth busting style. Never mind then!