Chapter 8
Constructing Knowledge: Information Hierarchies
IN THIS CHAPTER
Seeing how people handle new information
Thinking deeper about the knowledge pyramid
Resisting the temptation to give up learning
The central theme of this chapter is that many stages of information processing lie behind every piece of knowledge.
To illustrate the process of building knowledge, this chapter uses the analogy of constructing a pyramid. I describe climbing the knowledge pyramid by checking out the building blocks of knowledge: data and information. I also discuss the elegant and definitely pyramid-shaped ideas of Benjamin Bloom as well as another American professor, Calvin Taylor, who extended Bloom’s ideas to emphasize the importance of creativity. In addition I look at how to get and keep yourself motivated on that climb to the top of the thinking pyramid.
Although some of this chapter may seem a bit theoretical and abstract, bear with me. These ideas are in fact highly practical in terms of developing your critical thinking skills. So put on stout boots, pack some sandwiches, and fill a water bottle, because you have a steep but rewarding climb ahead!
Building the Knowledge Pyramid
Philosophy ...
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