From Frustration to Success: The Power of Contextualization

 

Are you tired of feeling frustrated and inept in certain subjects or areas? Do you struggle with understanding abstract concepts or symbols? If so, you're not alone. Many people, including myself, have faced these challenges.

In 1983, I barely scraped by in Grade 10 with a 45% average in math and slightly better in physics. Despite my best efforts, I received an 'E' for Higher Grade, with no clear explanation or support from my teachers. It was a frustrating time. But my story didn't end there.

Fast forward to 1992, and I earned my B.Proc. (Law) degree. By 2013, I passed a course in Formal Logic at Stanford University with Summa Cum Laude honours. I advanced to MIT in 2018 and, in 2022, received my PhD. Despite my early struggles, my passion for finding solutions only grew stronger.

My journey highlights a common problem in education: the difficulty of understanding abstract concepts through traditional methods. As Galetzka (2017) pointed out, "Traditional theories on cognition that emphasize abstract symbol manipulations often face a dead end: The symbol grounding problem."

However, I discovered a powerful shortcut: contextualization.

Understanding the relationship between form and function and being able to contextualize them is the key to unlocking understanding and meaning. Contextualization allows us to focus on unique individuals, beliefs, thoughts, and actions in specific situations and contexts. It's a game-changer.

Bednar (2016) explains it well: "How people construct understanding and meaning, and how information needs and information use are created within this process by individuals. A reason why a notion of contextual dependency is of interest is that it supports a focus of inquiry on unique individuals, individual beliefs, thoughts and actions in specific situations and contexts."

I've discovered the transformative power of contextualization in the workplace. By becoming aware of contextual markers or cues, I've been able to understand and interpret abstract concepts and symbols more easily. If you're struggling, I encourage you to give contextualization a try. Here's an example:

Have you experienced the power of contextualization? Do you have any tips or tricks to share? Let us know in the comments!