Vygotsky Podcast

with Francine Smolucha, Vygotskian translator, researcher, & teacher  (Initially posted Nov 17, 2022)

Full chat: http://tiny.cc/6g65vz

A few more considerations and ideas for reading fictional literature and "fictional reality”: texts as intentional acts; texts as a 'turn' in an ongoing cultural conversation; and threshold concepts. 

This excerpt is from "Thinking and Feeling Our Way Through Fake News" with Michael W. Smith http://tiny.cc/m1v1vz

Readers of literature tend to have rich imaginations which can sometimes be a barrier to parsing information in the world.  On the other hand, literary skills can be great armor in the battle against information pollution.  Here are a few tools.   

This excerpt is from "Thinking and Feeling Our Way Through Fake News" with Michael W. Smith http://tiny.cc/m1v1vz

Francine Smolucha has been translating, teaching, and researching Vygotsky since the 1980s. Along with an interesting personal history, we get a great look at creativity’s line of development from infancy through fully-realized adulthood. 

Highlights include: 

0:48 - Francine’s interesting backstory 

5:00 - Can people consciously direct their imaginative thinking? 

10:38 - Visual isomorphism is useful - and fun! 

18:00 - Why do creativity exercises? 

24:06 - Artists and intuition 

27:50 - Do children have innate creative imaginations? 

36:48 - Vygotsky on the role of play in development (pretend play and object substitution) 

42:48 - How (and when) do higher mental functions and psychological systems interact? 

46:50 - Vygotsky and neuroscience 

51:20 - What comes first: brain or concept (or function) development? 

56:34 - What does “word meaning develops” mean? 

1:05:38 - Development of concepts vs. that of word meaning 

1:09:56 - Vygotsky’s idea of a fully developed adult 

1:17:00 - Pros and cons of scientific concepts (and “restrictive frames”) 

1:22:45 - Frame flexibility and being different 

1:24:35 - Francine’s role in the Vygotskysphere 

1:29:05 - Vygotsky as film character and as role model 

1:32:50 - The role of conflict resolution and perseverance in Francine’s own development 

1:45:03 - Ideas for everybody 

1:52:15 - Some ideas for maintaining creative development through adolescence 

1:59:26 - Honoring everyday creativity : ) 

Links & References:

"Vygotsky’s theory in-play: early childhood education" - http://tiny.cc/m321vz 

"Why Man Creates" - http://tiny.cc/n321vz 

"An interesting assignment" - http://tiny.cc/p321vz

This discussion is about developing better filters for processing information in a messy world.  Literacy and teaching expert Michael W. Smith helps us strengthen our mindset and skillset for navigating fake news. We also discuss great teaching concepts that work well in the classroom and the public sphere. For busy teachers, Smith offers efficient ways of using one's existing practice to help students identify and interrogate information pollution. 

Highlights include: 

0:46 - A quick review of key concepts and ideas from our first chat (http://tiny.cc/u3r0vz) 

1:52 - An overview of Michael's new book, "Fighting Fake News" 

3:02 - How can busy teachers incorporate 'fake news defense' into their existing instruction? 

5:24 - The importance of 'reading ourselves' and owning our own role in the pollution process 

6:24 - As a concept and as reality, what is fake news? 

8:55 - Literacy-wise, can skills and strategies transfer from 'fictional' to 'fake' texts? 

10:13 - The crucial role of TRANSFER in learning (and in Michael's career path) 

14:25 - Making opaque 'insider strategies' more explicit (and helping student do the same) 

18:22 - Working backwards from enjoyable, engaging activity to formal articulation 

22:10 - Applying characterization, unreliable narrator, and "rules of notice" strategies to fake news 

27:00 - How is the maker(s) of this text moving my attention around, and how do I feel about that? 

32:52 - Applying the 'persuasion filter' without excessive cynicism 

34:34 - Reading laterally (recognizing texts as part of an ongoing cultural conversation) 

36:29 - Is knowing thyself a threshold concept in the realm of fake news? 

37:58 - In the world, evidence is disputed -- so "what would create a safe starting point?" 

41:30 - Is reliable sensemaking possible for individuals? Mindset + skillset helps - or can help. 

47:38 - Creating contexts that lend themselves to lateral reading and social trust 

52:22 - Speed round: Transfer 

54:22 - Speed round: Texts are intentional acts 

55:39 - Speed round: Texts as a turn in an ongoing cultural conversation 

56:44 - Speed round: Threshold concepts  

References & Resources: 

"Fighting Fake News: Teaching Students to Identify & Interrogate Information Pollution" - https://bit.ly/3tfsUQO

Michael's books - https://amzn.to/3tcj6qz and https://bit.ly/3NRI48h

"How to Mislead with Facts" - https://bit.ly/3huUWoY  

"Algorithmic Media for Good" - https://bit.ly/3EgFoOv

Twitter Birdwatch - https://tcrn.ch/3UI1bUH

David Kellogg discusses key challenges to talking about Vygotsky in public-friendly ways (main reason: it's hard, for teachers and learners). Storytelling, he says, can create helpful meeting points between concrete and abstract ideas, provided the stories aren't too misleading. After discussing various difficulties, David offers two stories as a means of explaining Vygotsky's main project. Highlights include:

0:42 - some points of embarrassment

2:34 - barriers to making Vygotsky accessible to non-experts

5:00 - learning & teaching (via Walter Benjamin)

7:48 - esoteric and exoteric knowledge, differences and links

13:03 - more barriers to linking the esoteric and exoteric (maybe)

18:03 - the main reason: teaching is hard (and so is learning)

20:00 - stories as meeting-point between the concrete and abstract (including misleading ones)

25:00 - family stuff: a talented and smart bunch

27:49 - a better way to tell stories (i.e., metaphors) about our brains & development

29:47 - the spinal cord story (Master story 1, with its four levels)

35:36 - the human development/Vygotsky story (Master story 2, with its four stages)

44:00 - Vygotsky said THAT these two kinds of stories are distinct yet LINKED (a mega story, a meta story, a story of stories)

45:35 - Halladay helps to show HOW the two big stories are linked: expansion and projection

50:10 - an illustration, at the language level (using transitions - elaboration, extension, and enhancement)

1:00:29 - neoformations and disrupted lines of development (a follow-up)

1:07:34 - helpful perspectives for parents

1:13:38 - other lines of development

1:17:07 - development crises vs. mental illness (i.e., a crisis that doesn't culminate)

References:

ResearchGate: David Kellogg - http://tiny.cc/dog0vz

"How to Grow My Brain" (Khan Academy) - http://tiny.cc/48b0vz

"Angelus Novus" (Klee) - https://magazine.artland.com/stories-of-iconic-artworks-paul-klees-angelus-novus/

John Barra is an award-winning producer who's been making TV for 30+ years. He's always fun to talk to, and highlights include: 

0:32 - Some interviewing pros and cons 

1:52 - A (work) day in the life 

6:08 - What is a Contestant Producer? 

13:10 - Was John always like this? 

16:20 - John's solid (PBS) foundation & some bumps along the path 

20:36 - Passionate Jeopardy fans and staff talent 

26:56 - The great Alex Trebek 

30:46 - An interesting friend 

36:01 - Hollywood events and that show we like (Severance) 

42:37 - There will always be pricks (and their opposite) 

49:00 - What would John's passion project be? 

53:05 - Parenting thoughts & tips 

56:11 - Mottos, catchphrases, and aging 

1:01:54 - Making it in LA and changing lives 

1:05:43 - The lasting influence of John's mentor 

1:07:48 - The benefits of talented colleagues 

1:11:35 - Being in front of the camera (fundraising & "phood") 

1:15:44 - Some interviewer & interviewee tips 

1:19:14 - Was this enjoyable? 

1:22:48 - How might John be remembered?  

1:25:48 - LA vs NY 

1:28:43 - The importance and appeal of mentoring 

1:32:54 - Any regrets?

This message welcomes you and explains the large quantity of older episodes that I've re-posted at the top of this podcast.  Vygotsky was a fascinating individual, and if you poke around a bit, I think you'll find some of the info interesting and useful.