Decomposition- A Way to Teach, A Way to Learn #20

Decomposition in Biology- to break down into smaller components, to have the bonds severed and the materials return to their most basic state. If we let things rot on the counter, they decompose. Chemicals are released, discoloration and smell changes occur. We know it when we see it and the waft of decomposition fills the air. It seems to be a negative occurrence- something is lost. But, in reality it a return to something- a new beginning of sorts.

In learning it is a new way of seeing things. A new course of action. A new strategy. A new path to reach success. In a Language Arts class decomposition would be literary analysis- finding the theme or meaning of a text. Understanding the motive and process of an author to see how that influenced the piece. In science class it could be a dissection to understand the inner workings of an animal and how that compares to human anatomy.

It is deconstructing a larger concept into its smaller parts so students can piece it together in a way that makes sense to them. PBL's are inquiry based projects that can allow students to look at larger concepts in their own way. Thermodynamics by looking the character and science behind DC's the Flash or Hot Air Balloons. By allowing students to study a related topic to explain a larger concept, you allow them to create a field of vision that makes sense to them.

When we provide students with the end goal, the curriculum standards, the specifics they need to understand- and then allow them to create the flow of information, the way they want to share with us their knowledge- this is decomposition, deconstruction. The more we let them topple the tower- the more they can see all the bricks. This gives them a choice of how to reconstruct it. Some may want it sky-scaper style while others tower and moat, and others Eiffel. Its all about perspective.

This is why we so desperately need to take a step back and let them decompose their preconceived notions- with a nudge from us- but with exploration and discovery because action is what convinces us ultimately. When we can see things change, witness discussions and debates, hear words and wisdom but see it bring about behavior alterations- this is what convinces us to listen and maybe change ourselves.