Michael,
I read your note with interest and would like to add a comment and a
question.
Pierce proposes that one quests for truth. Challenges to ones own
view of the truth (i.e. world view) in the form of non conforming
experiences will cause doubt. This will initiate inquiry aimed at
eliminating the doubt. Thus experience can initiate learning.
Learning can take one of two forms, single or double loop. Single
loop will merely modify ones mental model of the situation. Double
loop learning will require fundamental change to the world view
adopted. Can this second, double loop learning, be paralleled with
innovation ?
Paul
> From: Michael McMaster <Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk>
> Date sent: Fri, 26 May 1995 07:12:18 +0000
> Subject: Learning vs. Innovation LO1400
> I think it might be worth distinguishing learning from innovation in
> this conversation. I'd go about it this way:
>
> Learning is a result of theory or concept and experience. The theory
> or concept may be unaware or very "fuzzy" and the experience may be
> merely mental. But they go together. That is, to make the point
> starkly, we don't learn from experience. We first bring something to
> our action (even if it's all mental) and learn from the resonance or
> disonance of the two.
>
> Innovation is a result of recombination (occasionally mutation or
> purely random events) of what is already integrated with other things
> and contained in some (mental) identity. Seeking innovation requires
> different processes than seeking learning.
>
> The connection between the two is that innovation will be followed by
> learning if the innovation is to "stick" and become useful.
-- Paul MiddletonMechanical Engineering Department Private Bag University of Cape Town Rondebosch 7700 South Africa
Phone : 010 27 21 650 3242 Fax : 010 27 21 650 3240 E-mail : paulm@engmlab.uct.ac.za _________________________________