Serendipity

Serendipity is one of the most neglected aspects of learning and I think that we should run courses in encouraging it. I was reading Donald Murray recently (on writing research papers) where I discovered this: "Practice the art of serendipity, discovering one thing while looking for another. [Students] should be encouraged to glance at the books on the shelf below the one they are looking for, at the article on the page following the one they have found in the directory."

This is especially true on the internet. Often the initial search leads to something entirely different, and way more interesting. We should value these journeys and encourage students to see their value too. Many great discoveries have been made when someone set out to find something else, but there is also a skill in recognising the worth of the new thing discovered.