UKZN Sociologist, Dr Mariam Seedat-Khan, was invited by eThekwini Municipality to be part of their programme on Critical Thinking and Reading Skills at the Bayview Library in Chatsworth.

She facilitated a session with 80 Grade 7 learners from schools across the Bayview area that aimed to develop such skills. “Every learner understands that formal learning environments favour the visual learning style over others,” said Seedat-Khan.

Learners were taught how to manage their time and tasks by applying 60-minute reinforcing SMART (Simply Managing Academic Related Tasks) techniques. Seedat-Khan advised them to use the thinking styles adopted by creative geniuses.

“Find perspectives that no one else has taken. Form relationships between unlikely subjects. Make use of diagrams and images to analyse dilemmas. Be productive. Make novel combinations. Think in opposites. Get outside of your comfort zone. Failure can be productive only if we do not focus on it as an unproductive result,” said Seedat-Khan.

She also shared the eight different types of intelligence: Linguistic; Logical and Mathematical; Visual and Spatial, Musical; Bodily and Kinesthetic; Interpersonal; Intrapersonal and Naturalist.

Seedat-Khan noted that learners’ average attention span is between six and 20 minutes. It varies depending on initial interest in the topic, the room temperature, the time of day, and the learner’s energy levels. “A change of pace at least every six to 10 minutes gives learners the chance to refocus and renew their interest in the topic. It is important that the pace of the teaching corresponds with learners’ attention span,” she said.

Seedat-Khan also highlighted downloading time, which is time set aside every day before homework for anything that worries or distracts learners at school. She suggested the use of music, and visual, auditory, kinesthetic and read-write learning in classrooms. Finally, she advised learners to set goals for themselves and outline the steps required to achieve each goal.