Comments on: Intuition, Details and the Bow/Arrow Metaphor https://betterexplained.com/articles/intuition-details-and-the-bowarrow-metaphor/ Math lessons that click Fri, 11 Dec 2020 06:38:28 +0000 hourly 1 By: kalid https://betterexplained.com/articles/intuition-details-and-the-bowarrow-metaphor/#comment-190821 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 02:44:13 +0000 http://betterexplained.com/?p=1522#comment-190821 In reply to psoe.

Hi psoe, thanks for the note! I don’t like to make clearcut distinctions like specialist vs. generalist, but I think someone who is really, really good at something has figured out a) how to practice b) how to work through difficulties c) what it feels like to “know” something. The so-called “generalist” might actually be really good at A, and ok at B-Z, but would still have that mastery experience with A. In more abstract terms, if you can get into the “flow” state with one endeavor, you’ll know what it’s like to be in the zone with a new one (and everyone has hit that “in the zone” feeling at some point).

It’s really hard for me to comment on education systems as a whole. In general, I think flexibility of options good, and the focus on lots of arrows (or not) is a combination of the attitudes and efforts of the teacher and student.

]]> By: psoe https://betterexplained.com/articles/intuition-details-and-the-bowarrow-metaphor/#comment-190468 Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:39:23 +0000 http://betterexplained.com/?p=1522#comment-190468 Hi Kalid, enjoy your site immensely, keep adding more!
when you say learning how to learn is not learning more and more arrows, but mastering a single bow and a single arrow, does that imply that specialists are better at learning new things, i.e. they are also better generalists? And on a sidenote, american liberal education that teaches multiple things in college seems to be giving students just the arrows, and not allowing students to master one bow and one arrow, thus fail? (or maybe it’s doing well, what do you think?) erm… this puzzle has bugged me for a long time, so I’d like your opinion.

]]> By: kalid https://betterexplained.com/articles/intuition-details-and-the-bowarrow-metaphor/#comment-172849 Fri, 21 Dec 2012 23:47:46 +0000 http://betterexplained.com/?p=1522#comment-172849 In reply to Seun.

Thanks Seun!

]]> By: Seun https://betterexplained.com/articles/intuition-details-and-the-bowarrow-metaphor/#comment-172757 Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:25:57 +0000 http://betterexplained.com/?p=1522#comment-172757 Thanks for this site… very inspiring!

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