"Conversation of Mankind"

In “Collaborative Learning and the ‘Conversation of Mankind’”, Kenneth A. Bruffee discusses the relationship between thought and conversation. Bruffee believes that in order for a thought to be considered something that is learned, it needs to be discussed with another person. In my opinion this is a valid statement because discussion brings out not only an individuals thoughts but also responses and others thoughts, which eventually allows the original individual to start thinking again. For example, when Bruffee brings up the medical research of M. L. J. Abercrombie, he discusses how “the result of her research was to suggest that diagnosis, the art of medical judgment and the key element in successful medical practice, is better learned in small groups of students arriving at diagnoses collaboratively than it is learned by students working individually.” This type of discussion makes the most sense because it allows all the ideas of all the doctors to come together and form a more intelligent decision.

When I am sitting in a lecture hall listening to my teachers voice the entire class, I receive hardly any knowledge. I find it extremely boring and it causes my mind to wander in different directions rather then causing a thought inside my own head. However, when a teacher proposes questions to their students my mind stirs and my thoughts open up. It is not until the teacher then opens that question up for a class discussion that my mind is in full motion. While listening to other students it allows me to receive different points of views and helps me reflect on my own ideas. My WSC 1 class, fairytale literature class and my History class have all been my favorite classes because they were strictly discussion based. It’s kind of funny to think about that in these three classes we always sat in a circle and the teacher was basically there to help push and direct the discussion but the discussion of the students was the main basis of the class. I have learned that I receive the most knowledge in a discussion-based setting. My mind remains focused and I am so concentrated on listening to what other people are saying in order to gain the most knowledge I can for future purposes and to help me better understand. In these class settings I also always found it interesting that when discussing the teacher will sometimes say, “wow, I never thought of it that way.” Discussion allows new knowledge to constantly take place.

Bruffee also discusses how peer tutoring and peer criticism exercises are seen as a successful way of collaborative learning. I agree with this statement as well because in regards to my own experience it is much easier to discuss with a peer who is on your level then a teacher who exceeds your knowledge. For example, in our WSC 2 class, during our ink shedding exercises I receive the most knowledge because all of our classmates are correcting and learning from one another. I love receiving a card that has so many responses and notes on it because it is the easiest to comprehend. Something that I would have never understood before is now so easy to understand thanks to our peer discussion groups. I always find myself turning to my peers and asking them questions regarding assignments because I want to see their thoughts and compare it to my own. I don’t think I’ve ever done a paper without asking someone in my class, “What are you writing about and what do you think of this?” Using peer groups and peer criticism’s helps me gain different ideas and concepts and add them to my own. Bruffee’s ideas on collaborative learning are ideal and in my opinion the most successful way to learn.