As with meta-cognition, cognitive dissonance is one of learning’s great leaps forward. Most generally, cognitive dissonance is the moment in which a person recognizes that something does not seem right, intellectually speaking, and they are driven to figure out why that is. That combination of non-understanding with drive for understanding propels deeper knowledge on a number of levels.
A moment of cognitive dissonance is either intentionally created or stumbled upon. It is not easy to hit upon teachable moments that emerge from cognitive dissonance, as it is a delicate series of events that have to happen in someone’s mind. The point is not to create confusion, rather the effect is more of wonderment.
The instances of cognitive dissonance can happen for students in any subject area. Literature is full of moments of cognitive dissonance, such as when a reader needs to read on to understand what is occurring, knowing full well that it will be worth it. Meeting a character in a novel that on all levels seems like a terrible character, but in fact is sympathetic, generates this sense of wonderment at how that can be. A person may well consider their judgments, biases, beliefs and intellectually grow.
Social studies and history can present their opportunities for cognitive dissonance to push students into deeper conceptual understanding. For instance, in a question about civil rights, the truly unassuming question, “Is everyone really equal?” thrown out to a group of teens can penetrate accepted beliefs and bring about a deeper analysis of the question. In a group with some idealistic teens, some apathetic teens, some over-achieving teens, this question can shift opinions coming from all different perspectives in a lively discussion.
Math and Science offer a great many opportunities to affect cognitive dissonance. Being presented with a problem and having to find the best method to solve the problem can have great outcomes. Likewise, learning a piece of information that is hard to believe and setting about to prove or disprove the theory or hypothesis has its roots in cognitive dissonance.
Allowing a little confusion is not a bad thing. Certainty does not exist in all things, and that is an important lesson for kids to learn. But, any moment that sparks intellectual searching for an answer should be grabbed and used, as it will be remembered.
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