(2008) Conscious Learning in the Conceptual Economy: Allen Manser

Name: Allen Manser

Talk Title: “Conscious learning for the cognitive economy.”

Notes: UBC Alumni (Sauder School of Business class of 2006).

Topic: Why formal education is no longer a means to an end and how a new appreciation for ideation, multiple intelligences, and passion are paramount to personal and professional success.

The talk will emphasize the importance of learning to live passionately and challenge the acceptance of mediocrity and indifference. This includes a need to actively reframe intelligence: taking a look at preconceptions on intelligence, understanding multiple intelligences, and understanding what is most important in the 21st century. In essense, the presentation will
support the need to ideate and apply creativity in all aspects of business and life.

1. Luca D

   Many interesting ideas, great talk.
   Luca D.

   Mar 14th, 2009

2. Conor

   Allen,

   I really enjoyed the talk. I hope UBC adminstration has taken the time to listen and see if they can find was to apply some of the concepts you`ve shared. I look forward to see if you will take these concepts anywhere.

   Thanks again,

   Conor

   Apr 2nd, 2009

3. holla

   This vid reminded me of the movie “waking life”: simply said, amazing. I wonder what Allen is up to now…

   May 15th, 2009

4. Chris

   Interesting talk but let’s be critical and say.
   This is the emperor’s new clothes.

   Everything you outline are basically ‘human’ skills that everyone has to varying degrees and you are rebranding it as something that no one has ever thought of before. People acquire these skills in life from the moment they start interacting with others in the kindergarden. I agree that they are underemphasised but how are they the basis of a new economy. In particular:

   How do we make money in the conceptual economy?
   What activities are we undertaking that we aren’t doing now, which place these skills *above* traditionally learnt disciplines?

   People find meaning in their life in all kinds of ways outside of their job. Through family and hobbies. To say we need to find meaning in everything we do is rather narrow-minded. Many people see work as a means to an end and treat it as such but it is patronising to suggest that people who just clock in and out have no meaning in their lives. There is more to life than work and seek meaning elsewhere. Maybe these people have more meaning in their life because they see beyond concept of live to work and work to live instead. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is not without criticism, in particular that there is any set hierarchy but just human needs.

   This sounds like typical business school hype. I don’t see how what you advocate is any different from an incremental shift in content and teaching methods and a call for these skills find a greater expression in the current economy.

   Jul 17th, 2009

1. TERRY TALKS » TEDxTt2008 Summary - Oct 5th, 2009

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