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Chapter 12 - Interventions for Developing Wisdom

from Part III - The Modifiability of Wisdom

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 May 2022

By
Michel Ferrari ,
Juensung J. Kim  and
Stephanie Morris
Edited by
Robert J. Sternberg  and
Judith Glück
Robert J. Sternberg
Affiliation:
Cornell University, New York
Judith Glück
Affiliation:
Universität Klagenfurt, Austria
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Summary

Chapter Abstract: This chapter explores how to cultivate wisdom through public education. To educate for wisdom, we need to be clear about our target outcome. We suggest a wise student is one who is healthy and well-integrated physically, personally, intellectually and socially—what Rogers called “a fully functioning person.” Educational programs need specific indicators of progress, so we propose six connections to being, feeling, and thinking. These connections are established and strengthened by curricula that include: studying inspirational exemplars; teaching strategies to become like those exemplars (e.g., journaling); teaching concepts related to wisdom (e.g., critical thinking); and building real and virtual educational environments. Although the best teachers already teach for wisdom, many (perhaps most) teachers in public education do not. Making teaching for wisdom more common requires changes to current teacher education, student assessment and educational policy.

Keywords

Wisdomdevelopmenteducationlearning environmentsassessmentteacher education
Type
Chapter
Information
The Psychology of Wisdom
An Introduction
 , pp. 193 - 208
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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