We’re taught as children to work individually and to focus, but brain science shows that the brain is simply unable to pay attention. It chatters to itself 80% of the time. Because the brain is the ultimate multi-tasker, its attention is selective and it misses things. This is the basis for Cathy Davidson’s call for “collaboration by difference.” The potential for stumbling onto creative discoveries is increased when people are not trying to focus on the same goal, since each of us will attend to different things. Collaboration is a key to creative discoveries.
Former provost at Duke Cathy Davidson was interviewed on “To the Best of Our Knowledge” on October 14, 2012. She is leading the movement to use technological and scientific innovations to reform education for the 21st century.
Check out the non-profit Hastac.org for ideas about collaboration and educational reform.