Why 'Dinosuars' isn't helpful.

The more I reflect on the recent #eltchat called introducing CPD to dinosaurs, (see the excellent summary by Andrea Wade http://eltchat.com/2012/05/06/introducing-cpd-to-dinosaurs-eltchat-summary-02052012/), the more I am convinced that the use of the word dinosaur is misguided. 

I believe labels are not helpful and ones with negative connotations are even worse. I find that in our minds labels are self-fulfilling prophecies. If you call someone a dinosaur, you will only notice the behaviour that reaffirms your views and ignore the behaviour that doesn’t.  (Read Richard Wiseman’s book Paranormality for an excellent insight into how we only notice what we want to.) So stop labelling them.  Look for, and build on small things that show there is some CPD going on, rather than noticing all the larger signs that suggest there isn’t.  


by the way if you enjoyed these 140 words why not visit my other blog 
http://gareth140words.blogspot.com/