INTROVERSION AND EXTROVERSION
Two important concepts in teaching and education
Extroversion simply means “being able to look outward”.
Introversion simply means “looking in too closely”.
Some people can be extroverted, so are capable of looking around the environment and some people can be introverted, or looking inward at themselves.
For example, concentrating one’s attention on a mobile phone for long periods of time or concentrating on study materials for long periods of time, trying to memorise information to pass an exam or being so worried about something that one’s attention is fixed on it, can all be ways for someone to become introverted.
On the other hand, being able to look outwards, talk to people, play games outdoors such as football or baseball, do gardening and such things can make someone very extroverted.
Therefore we can see that certain activities can push someone towards introversion and other activities can push someone towards extroversion. With the advent of mobile phones, tablets, computers and the internet and social media, more and more children have become introverted, with fixed attention on screens and computer images, and this does not contribute to the wellbeing of young people and students.
In teaching and education, it is important to achieve a good balance between extroversion and introversion. For example, when one is engrossed reading a book, one’s attention is firmly on the pages of the book. One is not looking outwards. Reading is certainly not a bad thing and is indeed important. But getting one’s attention out is equally important!
Mr Diego Martinez, an American STEM educator, school dean (headteacher) and recipient of the Alan Shepard Award is an ardent proponent of the importance of extroversion in teaching and education having achieved remarkable results in his classroom and his students. His TEDx talk below on the subject makes for very interesting and instructive viewing.
The Alan Shepard Award is bestowed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Space Foundation and The Astronauts Memorial Foundation upon one educator each year for innovation and the use of technology in the K-12 classroom (that’s roughly equivalent to primary and secondary school curriculum in the UK).
About Diego Martinez
Diego Martinez is the dean (headteacher or principal) of Five Points Academy, a private middle school in Denver, Colorado, where the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, humanitarians, artists and explorers gain the skills and abilities to follow their dreams. With a stellar background as a NASA-award-winning educator and a sixth-generation resident of San Luis Valley, Colorado, Diego embodies a profound commitment to education and innovation.
Diego's dedication to teaching transcends the classroom as he, alongside his wife Gail, also an educator, nurtures their three children in the pursuit of lifelong learning and growth. Leveraging his rich experience teaching in San Luis Valley public schools and at the Delphian School in Oregon, Diego has finely tuned his expertise in inspiring students to delve into the wonders of math and science.
Proudly descending from Ute Chief Ankatash, Diego embraces his Native American heritage as a wellspring of strength and inspiration, enriching our school community through his commitment to honoring ancestry and fostering cultural understanding.
Diego is not only an accomplished educator but also a published children's book author, penning
The Ugly Truckling, the Story of My Cybertruck. His early advocacy for electric cars and sustainable technology is evident in his design of solar hot water systems, his reservation for the first Tesla Model S #580, and his installation of the San Luis Valley’s inaugural grid-tied Photovoltaic system during his college years.
You can find more information about Five Points Academy and its dean, at www.fivepointsacademy.org.
