Imitate, Assimilate, Innovate

OK, So I strayed from Rock and Roll this time. I'm basically a 3 chord rocker, but one week last summer I attended Jamey Aebersold's Summer Jazz Workshop. I was definitely a fish out of water. I was way over my head. I knew little about Jazz, it's history, and how to play it.

In 7 days I learned a lot about Jazz, and I also learned a lot about learning. Of the many stories and quotes I heard throughout the week, one by jazz pianist David Baker has stuck with me.

He said there are 3 steps to learning jazz. The first step is to imitate the people you listen to. The second step is to assimilate. Finally you innovate, and very few of us reach this step (according to David Baker) .

In college I learned a lot of learning models, many much more complicated than this. Mr. Baker captured learning in 3 words. Really powerful ideas that can be used in the classroom. Here is what I use in my classroom.

The first rule, imitation, really makes me think that kids need good models in the classroom. Models for them to imitate. Teachers need to create model (model writing, art, experiments) so students can imitate them. Teacher should also collect works from other students to serve as models. Models should show what is possible and excellent so that students can imitate them.

Second, student will assimilate the information needed to perform the task. Student can easily imitate, but in time of reflection they can assimilate the skills. Students need time to analyze what they have done so that they can assimilate the knowledge. It is one thing to imitate, another to understand why.

Last, innovation, we expect students to be creative and innovative before they imitate and assimilate. Impossible. Students need to be able to imitate then assimilate first. Also, few students will imitate. It is quite an accomplishment to just imitate and assimilate knowledge.

When I realized this, I understand the learning curve much better. Learning Jazz and learning are so closely related. These 3 rules now rule my learning, and they should yours.