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KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING Using applied cognitive science to enhance learning, thinking, and problem solving. Dr. David Delany CAPSL Trinity College Dublin delanydi@maths.tcd.ie. PRESENT IMPERFECT. ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS. Low cognitive level of students…
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KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING Using applied cognitive science to enhance learning, thinking, and problem solving Dr. David Delany CAPSL Trinity College Dublin delanydi@maths.tcd.ie
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS • Low cognitive level of students… • Piagetian tests of formal operations norms 1976-2006/7 • Shayer & Ginsberg (2009) • Almost 50% of Science 1st Years below Formal Operational Level (11-15 yrs) • Finlayson, et al (2009) • Dumbing down is a tacit admission of pedagogical failure! • Project Maths
PROBLEMS WITH CONVENTIONAL EDUCATION • Educational practice demonstrably sub-optimal • Surface > deep learning • Near > far learning transfer • Dependent > independent thinking • Routine > adaptive expertise
PARADIGM SHIFT NEEDED! Conventional education is sub-optimal at the paradigm level Fundamentally misses the point!
BLACK BOX METAPHOR FOR EDUCATION • Answers are used to INDIRECTLY assess quality of understanding • Input-Output black box metaphor at root of problems with modern education
NOVICES Fragmented Poor Learning Transfer Non-hierarchical Inefficient Problem Solving Strategies KNOWLEDGE STRUCTURES EXPERTS • Integrated • Good Learning Transfer • Hierarchical • Efficient Problem Solving Strategies
Fragmented Non-Hierarchical Narrow CONVENTIONAL DEVELOPMENT of EXPERTISE ? UNSKILLED LEARNER • Integrated • Hierarchical • Extensive
Integrated Hierarchical Narrow Integrated Hierarchical Extensive IDEAL DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRESSION SKILLED LEARNER
KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING COURSE • Central goal: accelerate the development of adaptive expertise through deliberate construction of expert knowledge structures • TCD, Cornell, Intel, etc • Apply findings from cognitive science to improving cognitive skills • Meaningful learning, deep insight, creativity & structured innovation • Novice => expert => elite expert
KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING EXAMPLE CAPITAL: The man-made FACTOR OF PRODUCTION encompassing all the physical assets, such as machinery, used by a business to produce goods and services.
CAPITAL: The man-made FACTOR OF PRODUCTION encompassing all the physical assets, such as machinery, used by a business to produce goods and services.
DEEP vs SURFACE STRUCTURE SURFACE STRUCTURE CAPITAL: The man-made FACTOR OF PRODUCTION encompassing all the physical assets, such as machinery, used by a business to produce goods and services DEEP STRUCTURE
FROM SURFACE TO DEEP TO SURFACE CAPITAL: The man-made factor of production encompassing all the physical assets, such as machinery, used by a business to produce goods and services GOODS AND SERVICES: The outputs of the business production process FACTOR OF PRODUCTION: Resources, such as capital, used by a business as inputs to the production process in the creation of goods and services PRODUCTION PROCESS: The business process through which factors of production, such as capital, are converted into goods and services
ABSTRACTION The greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor. It is the one thing that cannot be learnt from others; it is the mark of genius, for to make good metaphors implies an intuitive perception of the similarity in dissimilars. Aristotle (384-322 BC), Greek philosopher
KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING & CREATIVITY • Ward (1994) Experiment: Alien Design • CONCLUSION: Human creativity is limited • we recycle and adapt familiar elements • Bilateral symmetry, polarity, sensory app., appendages • ALTERNATIVE CONCLUSION: • Creativity is limited by poor Knowledge Engineeringskills
LEGAL ANALYSIS: RATIO DECIDENDI Identifying the ratio of the Wilkinson vs Downton (1895) case Process of structural abstraction Good legal rule: not too concrete, not too general
WHY KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING? • CLARITY OF UNDERSTANDING • COMPRESSION • I am sorry for the length of my letter, but I had not the time to write a short one. • Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), French mathematician and philosopher • FAR LEARNING TRANSFER • KNOWLEDGE RESTRUCTURING
KNOWLEDGE MAPPING SOFTWARE Intelligence analysts (FP7) “Construction and visualisation of augmented representations of the deep conceptual frameworks underpinning an analysis” Abstraction & Information overload “analytical due diligence”
FUTURE EDUCATION: PARADIGM-SHIFTING CONVERGENCE Advanced knowledge analytics tools Self-administered neurocognitive enhancement training tools What educational system design would best serve ‘post-convergence’ students? Implications for the Irish education system? Publication-grade student research at 2’ level Vertically-distributed research model Ireland’s international education ranking