The concept of the development of Wisdom has captured my thinking for some time now - almost to the exclusion of other thinking. I started working on a model as a way - a process - to begin exploring two concepts: how knowledge becomes inherent wisdom (DNA); and how the evolution of information from education to wisdom occurs.

Some quick history: Kath and I started this thinking one afternoon, four years ago, while building a framework for a program about Adult Learners (Individuals who have worked for some time and now have knowledge, experience, and skills - a foundation for applying innovative thinking independently). We hypothesized that the delta between traditional students and adults in training or returning to educational programs is experience. Experience coupled with knowledge fuels wisdom – the wisdom to know whether that burr under your saddle is worth pursuing or just a thing either to be ignored or plucked and trashed. That idea of wisdom, coupled with the invention of Velcro established our Wild Burr Theory (WBT). Today, I propose that the Wild Burr Theory is really the DNA of Wisdom.

DNA The molecule that encodes genetic information is the metaphor for the development of wisdom. For this metaphor DNA stands for Dynamic kNowledge Attributes. (For you member bloggers, please understand that I'm not married to the proposed definitions of the D, the N, and the A – although I am fond of the D and the N.) some tentative definitions include:

D: Dynamic is: Thinking in motion; Dynamic Thought is: a state of constant evolution; Dynamic Thinking is also the practice of double-loop learning.

kNowledge is: Quality content - not information – knowledge that is not debatable, e.g. content that is the quality of theorems. Knowledge is made up of “fact particles” (definition not defined) that once can call-up to apply to many situations. Facts, not debatable and therefore something we always trust. Knowledge is also our Tuition Trust (definition not defined.)

Attribute is: Inherent behaviors that serve you well again and again. These are the little ladder connections that hold the double-helix together. There is a complete list of them in the model I’ll send out to member bloggers.

For the development of the model, I propose we label the arch points of the two helix strands as:

Strand 1: Education - Knowledge - Outcomes
Strand 2: Learning - Experience - Wisdom

Along the strands are our Attributes – or the tracer elements – of our DNA: immersion, focus, insight, awareness, prudence, intuition, fascination, accident, curiosity, commitment, and judgment.

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