Focus
Being totally absorbed by a taskPrincipal Metaphors
- Knowledge is … scope of possible activities
- Knowing is … flow (having sufficient skills to complete a demanding task effortlessly)
- Learner is … an engager (individual in action)
- Learning is … developing skills
- Teaching is … N/A
Originated
1980sSynopsis
Flow is characterized by intense concentration on an achievable goal or task with deep, yet effortless immersion. Flow requires tasks that promise success and offer immediate feedback. To enter a flow state, one must have autonomy over the situation or activity. A Flow state is an energizing and pleasurable experience during which one might lose awareness one’s sense of self and other things – including time sometimes.Commentary
Flow describes a state of absorption in a task, but it does not offer suggestions for how to enter it. The theory makes broad and largely unsubstantiated claims of how experiencing Flow leads to happiness and otherwise improves one’s life. Flow also does not take into account any social aspects of learning. Commentators familiar with Eastern philosophy have highlighted that the concept – introduced to Western thought in the 1970s – has been a core component of most wisdom traditions for millennia.Authors and/or Prominent Influences
Mihaly CsikszentmihályiStatus as a Theory of Learning
Flow is not a theory of learning, as it does not offer new insight into the complex dynamics of learning. Flow is more of a psychological theory of mental states.Status as a Theory of Teaching
Flow is not a theory of teaching, yet, it has been integrated into education as a desirable state for learners’ engagements. The theory does not provide insights into how to set conditions for absorption into tasks. Some evidence has been generated to show that some teaching approaches (e.g., the Montessori Method) are more likely than others to prompt the experience of flow among learners.Status as a Scientific Theory
Flow is supported by some empirical evidence. Most of that evidence comes out of Phenomenology, Cognitive Science, and Neuroscience – which is to say, while generally accepted and supported by substantial evidence, the focused scientific program of research directly associated with Flow is limited.Map Location
Please cite this article as:
Davis, B., & Francis, K. (2020). “Flow” in Discourses on Learning in Education. https://learningdiscourses.com.
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