When i’m making an omelette i break the eggs into a glass in case i get any shell in there. I was watching someone cook the other day and they broke the eggs straight into the cake mix they were making with a wild disregard for the risks. Crazy. But wait: is my risk averse activity holding me back, or is it a sensible precaution that makes my cooking less crunchy than theirs?
Taking small steps can be good, feeling our way forwards and learning new things slowly. Take learning to drive: i would rather learn the basics before being thrown onto the main roads. But sometimes you need to be bold, to crack the eggs without the safety of the glass. Sometimes you need to risk the shell. I guess we all have native behaviours, being risk averse or bold, although these behaviours may be context dependent. If we ask people to do something they are not comfortable with, it can cause them to feel stress, or it may drive them to greater performance.
It’s a challenge that we shouldn’t ignore. Within the design of learning, are we asking people to move fast or slow? How will they feel in each case? How will the cake turn out?
julianstodd