Generative knowledge is the summary term that Perkins states encompasses the three general goals of any educational system. 2. understanding of knowledge 3. Perkins uses the term Fragile Knowledge which includes but is not limited to naive knowledge and ritual knowledge. Ritual knowledge, closely aligned with naive knowledge, is one s intuitive understanding of the world that remains despite instruction to the contrary. Teachers mistakenly acquaint their students with as much knowledge or content as possible, sacrificing depth for breadth.
Texts grow larger containing more and more superficial and disconnected information.
Perkins argues that the American education model is more ability centered than effort centered and cites examples of Japanese and other cultures as well as research findings that support his theory that one s innate ability to catch on should not take precedence in educational models. Human beings possess relational knowledge or understanding using symbol systems which they build into relational webs. The unintelligent organism does not understand its environment, rather it reacts to the environment. Those not so well programmed are selected out and become extinct. This theory states that individuals perceive the world in at least eight different and equally important ways and that these dimensions are associated with distinctive symbol systems and modes of representation.