How do people – how do we – think? How should think?
When discussing “capabilities and skills” in an educational context (and what we should teach the next generation; and what children and young adults should learn in preparation for the real world, of work) – both “analaysing” and “critical thinking” figure.
‘Frameworks’ is about Structured Thinking
‘Frameworks’: Making Sense of It All in the Age of Big Information; A Simple Methodology for Structured Thinking. Dr Peter Ward, Published by Brandspire Digital Limited, January 2025 [Amazon Books https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DV49LZ75]
In his Book: The Organised Mind; Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload, Published by Penguin Random House Books, 2015, Daniel Levitin concluded that, “More so than at any time in history, it is crucial that each of us takes responsibility for verifyong the information we encounter, testing it an evaluating it. This sthe skill that we must teach the next generation of citizens of the world , the capability to think clearly, completely, critically, and creatively.
Reflecting on my past work on information modelling tools and applications in th 1990s, I began distilling out the ‘Frameworks’ methodology and the ‘Frameworks’ protype tool around 2011. Around the time that Jonathan Haidt describes his early concerns about smart phones, social media and their effects on children.
My take on Daniel Levitin’s highlighting what we should be teaching the next generation – the capability to think clearly, completely, critically, and creatively – is structured thinking. As I was formulating the ‘Frameworks’ Meta Model, and the construction and elaboration of “Thinking Models” (models of thinking and understanding) around the Core Spinal Model. Framed and Constrained. Why “Framed”? Why “Constrained”?
Independent and Structured Thinking?
Isnt that what we all do? Doesnt this come naturally to children? Why would an 8 year old or a 14 year old need to know about structured thinking and managing complexity?
The 21st century world is complex and the digital world revolutionary and increasingly chaotic. A simple introduction and overview of complexity and how to manage it – employing simple methodologies and simple tools* – in the 21st century digital world!
* a wealth of large sophisticated tools, suites and platforms for productivity and creativity; OK ? Maybe a simple introduction and entry-level capabilities and skills for the ‘”info sphere”. Rocket science not necessary – simple methods and simple tools to begin with (learning). More sophisticated methods and tools leter/next.
The 21st century digital world into which the 8 and 14 year old will emerge – will be easier and easier to deal with as Big Tech enhances the “UX”, the User Experience? Simpler interfaces? Powerful algoritms for sure! Whats the need for structured thinking, for analysing, for idependent critiacl thinking? Where AI assistants will step in an do it all?
Reducing scale and complexity in the construction of simple graphical visual models of thinking and understanding? Making models of meaning and sharing them with others?
What do they look like? What for?
The ‘Frameworks’ thesis is that children* need to learn about complexity as soon as possble; to learn strategies and methods for reducing scale and complexity to manageable proportions.
* and “Ordinary People” including Parents and people at the Bustop and in the Bakers. Otherwise Professionals (tech savvy employing creative computing) and The Elite Tech-Savvy, providing the IT)
“Independent Thinking”?
‘Frameworks’ is about analyzing and visual thinking, and about representation, communication and sharing. About organising key information. About learning and remembering.
In the multidisciplinary context of cognitive development and cognition (how do we think, how do we learn, how do we remember how do we effectively communicate and how do we share key information)? In the context of information modelling, computer-based information modelling, informatics in the 21st century digital world, and visualisation as an effective way of structuring thinking and communication.
“Artificial Intelligence” and “Human Intelligence”
AI IN Education? Or, instead of Teachers and learning alot of stuff, where AI will do the trick? Make it digital and make it smart? A technical revolution – affecting the role of the teacher of the pupil, of the parents?
AI AND Education! How will that work out? Side-by-side, a symbiosis?
We need to adapt to the world of climate change and global warming. The next generation will need to hit the gound running in the digital world. They will need to adaptto the techncal revolutions of the internet and “AI”.
Part of my theisis is that they may benefit from simple “personal computing”, and the exercise of simple data modelling tools and information modelling tools. For visual thinkers, and as an adjunct to more textual, literal and numerical thinking
The Early Days
Computers in education? OK but people-centred.
The Sun Microsystems ‘SMILE’ Project, 1992
SMILE supporting multimedia interactive learning environments. Interactive Learning “CBL”, learning labs with a cluster of computers (a network?)? Facilitated by techicians?
Relieving teatchers? CBL/computers as apart of what?
Environments (teachers, tools, technicians; books and computers) as rich and enabling with an interaction between Teachers and Learners. Structured interactive learning. Browsing, focusing, selecting (hyper) linking with key stuff explanations, knowledge.
Bowsing visual, simple graphical interfaces to systems, to domains, to key stuff, to learning.
Essentially people-centred informatics.
Reducing Scale & Complexity to Manageable Proportions [Information Modelling]
Why now? Is this essential; fundamental? Whats new?
Children educated about scale and complexity and ways of dealing with it – as they navigate school education in the sciences and the arts a bunch ofsubjects and in a variety of learning experiences?
Information Structures. Frames, Containers. The situation of things in thought palaces? Stuctured Thinking. Situating key information in models of thinking, understanding and meaning.
‘Frameworks’: Elaboration around a Core Spinal Model of FOCUS, CONTEXT and INSTANCES.
Thanks to Neil Coe of Carta Design https://www.cartadesign.co.uk/