Culture Constrained Curiosity

  • Lucy Panesar: Educational Developer (Diversity & Inclusion), Teaching and Learning Exchange, ADS

Abstract

'Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect' (Johnson, 1751) yet ‘some students never really sign up to the intellectual project that is the course’ (Sabri, 2014) and 'learners can be differentially interpolated as more or less intellectually able based on their background and identity … this process impacts on the capacity to perform' (Singh and Cowden, 2016); 'even checking a box to indicate your race or sex can trigger the stereotype in your mind and lower your test score' (Dweck, 2012).

Is the impulse to be curious innate, present and consistent in all students? If curiosity is linked to intelligence then how and why might the curiosity of some students be constrained by aspects of their cultural identity, and how does this affect their academic ability? Do we (consciously or unconsciously) perceive some student to be more or less curious and therefore able than others? And to what extent are our perceptions of students, and their perceptions of themselves as curious intellectuals, influenced by cultural stereotypes?

In this workshop we will discuss these questions, reflect on our own experiences of constrained curiosity and identify catalysts for liberating and cultivating curiosity in the context of teaching and learning.

References

Johnson, S. (1751) Quotes on Curiosity. Available at: http://www.samueljohnson.com/curiosit.html (Accessed: 25 January 2017)
Sabri, D. (2014) Becoming Students at UAL ‘Signing up to the intellectual project that is course’: Year 1 report of a 3-year longitudinal study for the University of the Arts London. Available at: https://myintranet.arts.ac.uk/staffandstudents/diversity/race-and-ethnicity/race-ethnicity-and-degree-attainment-programme (Accessed: 25 January 2017). p.8
Singh, G and Cowden, S (2016) 'Intellectuality, student attainment and the contemporary higher education system' in Steventon et al (ed.) Student Attainment in Higher Education: Issues, Controversies and Debates. Oxon: Routledge. p.88-89
Dweck, C. (2012) Mindset: Changing the way you think to fulfil your potential. London: Robinson. p.75