Learning As If People Really Mattered with Debora Hammond, Francisco Vazquez & Tony Mountain

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Our world is facing more problems than we can count, and it's often difficult to see how we'll find the solutions. Many fear our education system is not producing the creative thinkers we'll need in the times ahead. But an innovative approach to education goes beyond traditional courses and classrooms to emphasize creativity and inspiration, so that students discover their own talents and get excited about the process of learning itself. It may even play a key role in producing tomorrow's leaders and problem solvers. As Tony Mountain says, "I don't think you can hold ignorance against somebody. But what you really want to do is to get them excited about doing something about their ignorance." In this dialogue you'll join three professors from Sonoma State University's Hutchins School of Liberal Studies as they explore the amazing potential of this nondirective, interdisciplinary approach to learning. (hosted by Michael Toms)

Bio

These three professors are from Sonoma State University's Hutchins School of Liberal Studies.

Debora Hammond is provost and professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, and the author of The Science of Synthesis: Exploring the Social Implications of General Systems Theory (University Press of Colorado 2003).

Francisco Vazquez is professor of "The History of Ideas" and the author of Latino/a Thought: Culture, Politics, and Society (Roman and Littlefield Publishers 2003).

Tony Mountain is professor of Liberal Studies.

Topics Explored in This Dialogue

• How you can find new solutions by changing the way you look at problems
• How asking new questions can change your life
• How students can inspire each other to reach their full potential
• Why conventional academic subjects may limit creative thinking
• How schools can ignite a new enthusiasm for learning