Honors Orientation: Teaching Wisdom

            When we think of college we think of learning and gaining knowledge. Rarely do we think that we will also gain wisdom along with this knowledge. We seem to think that knowledge is more important than wisdom in college and that we will just gain wisdom as it comes to us. However why shouldn’t colleges give us wisdom? Wisdom isn’t something that is hard to give but we just have to be willing to take the time to give it.

            Caroline Bassett writes about how wisdom can be taught in her article Emergent Wisdom. The four different dimensions of wisdom that she talks about are discerning, respecting, engaging, and transforming. Through teaching these wisdom can be gained. The honors program could do this in multiple ways. The first dimension is objectivity. This dimension can be taught by giving the students a situation and having them look at an objective standpoint, trying to figure out what is really going on and asking questions. The next dimension is respecting. This can be taught by giving the student a controversial topic, having them ask what do they think about the issue and what does the other side think about it. Then have the person really understand why the other view thinks that way so they have a true understanding. The next dimension is engaging. You could have them do community service (that they want to do) and ask them why they are doing it. Make them think if they are doing it because they want to or are they just going through the motions. The last dimension is transforming. After doing community service the student can reflect on it. Have them ask themselves questions about why they are doing things and what is going on. Wisdom is a gradual progression of things.

            Wisdom is not something that is gained quickly but over time through different trials. It is not usually taught but it could be taught. However it does not seem to be like something that can be taught in a normal classroom setting but through doing things.