Chance Favors the Prepared Mind: Mapping Future Discovery to Current Learning

I engaged in a research group exploring ambiguity, reflection, and mindfulness. Using Louis Pasteur’s famous quote “chance favors the prepared mind”, as the key stone to the investigation, the groups goal was to create a useful understanding of the learning processes and a theory for how people can effectively use ambiguity as a means to enhance future outcomes. Building on topics of the brain, cognition, and learning each member developed discourse around different levels of consciousness. I developed a conceptual model for processing ambiguity and accentuating opportunities through highlighting the significance of reflective practices. 

Equation Model

In this general model of “Chance favors the Prepared Mind” I created an equation and diagram for both analytic and visual type understanding. Through the equation model I have three components that equate to what we learned and discussed as a Future Surprise - A particular outcome and a reflection on that outcome. The three components that develop a Future Surprise is an individual’s Motivation, Chance, and Psyche.

Motivation

Motivation is an intrinsic variable that consists of 3 subunits - Area of Inquiry, Goal/Aspirations, and an Action Plan.

Goals or Aspirations are personal to the individual and include what one deems worth investing time and resources toward. i.e: "My goal is to give write a Spanish children's book." 

An Area of Inquiry (AOI) include bodies of knowledge for which an individual finds important or worth understanding in order to achieve a particular goal/aspiration. i.e: "To write a children's book I may need to understand what children like, grammar and the language of Spanish, how to write a plot, etc."

An action plan includes some cognitive mapped route for how an individual might go about trying to achieve their desired goal/aspiration. One does not have to have clear and concise lines that lead to their achieved goal, but rather concepts for what must be done for success (information gathering, elements of chance, and even one’s Psyche can influence an action plan upon further iterations). i.e: "First I must learn or know the Spanish Language, second I want to find a message to tell, third find my main character for the story, fourth develop a plot/storyline around this character."

Chance

Chance is classified as an extrinsic variable and is comprised of the subunits wildcards and external events.

Wildcards are unique, often serendipitous subjects we find interest through daily life. These wildcards can be anything from an interest in nature after a hike, or even the concept of love after meeting someone of interest at a social gathering. These wildcards work to grab and pull us in directions we never thought and often work in tandem with unpredictable external happenings throughout life. i.e: In my aspiration to write a Spanish children's book I find I personally enjoy drinking tea and thus tea can be a direction I want to explore in my writing.

External events can be both intentional or unintentional. A scheduled coffee session can lead to a plethora of outcomes as can a delayed flight for which you have no control over. i.e: A conversation with a friend or colleague about a their childhood can provide inspiration and inspiration toward my writing.

Psyche (mind, body, and soul)

The psyche is an intrinsic value, but unique in the sense that it functions on the subconscious and unconscious parts of the mind.

Here I’ve split this into subunits of Unconscious Capacities and Mindfulness. After learning more about the brain I found that the unconscious mind is a like a refinery system that builds on our sensory inputs and learned experiences to refine and shape the essence of ourselves. It seems that this unconscious development includes our capacities for a variety of concepts like empathy, compassion, creativity, attention, listening, etc. These capacities can all be made conscious to some degree but they take practice, and delicate attention. This is where mindfulness plays a key role. Having a refined capacity for mindfulness one becomes more aware and sensitive to not just the external events around, but also the intrinsic autonomy of emotion, metacognition, and openness, that is so forth put and weaved into action. 

Through these combination of variables and dynamic subunits produces an outcome. However the outcome must be self-reflected upon in order to truly become a “Future Surprise” - its takes more than finding a diamond in the rough to produce value. It is also the work, precision, and skill to cut and shape the stone for what we values diamonds to be. 

The Visual Model

This visual model is an abstract representation utilizing the same variable in the equation model but better represent a visual relationship and outcome. Both intrinsic and extrinsic qualities converge and are outputted to create ambiguous, unpredictable, and visual mandala pattern. In one sense an individual can take this pattern as it is - a pattern, or can further reflect on the pattern and see it as art contemplating the intricacies, facets, and qualities of the mandala pattern. 

Ambiguity and uncertainty is an important facet to my model and is integrated into both the Chance variable and Future Surprise Variable. These two concepts are unavoidable as we can have our own predictions, aspirations, and fantasies about what systems of chance might give us and how a particular path might plays out thus, having a variability plan is important, but this I believe stems from reflection. Reflecting on a particular outcome, allows the outcome to transform and become a “surprise” that might is hopefully positive. With this new understanding the Future Surprise can be built upon and further influencing and changing one’s area of inquiry, goals/aspirations, or even their Psyche.

Chance can be both positive and negative and a preparation of one’s Psyche will thus influence an outcome. These outcomes can be both positive and negative but it’s in the reflection that shifts how this outcome might be handled going forward. Building a strong Psyche and Mindfulness, I believe perpetuates better reflection and resilience to setbacks. Therefore throughout my life it’s important to practice these invaluable skills of mindfulness, meditation, and maintaining a healthy Psyche.

Personal Report:

Through this representation of my personal chance favored model the pattern is related and can synonymously represent my concept map if portrayed in a straight onward view rather than a profile (side) view. In relations to my shelf, I think I have naturally grouped things that represent two different spectrums. On the left, are more wildcard and external type concepts including a tea kettle, a globe for travel, and a plant for nature. On the right are more intrinsic qualities including sketchbooks and notebooks that represent my area of inquiry and goals. This model as the visual general model, includes ambiguity and uncertainty into the nature of the model.

Both Chance and the “Future Surprise” are by nature ambiguous and uncertain and as I have might have particular hopes, desires, and plans for and outcome the end result is left uncertain. Whether an outcome is positive or negative, variability and resilience comes from reflection. Reflecting on a particular outcome, allows my outcome to transform. An outcome and reflection creates a “surprise” - perhaps a lesson learned adding to my wealth of knowledge and experience. With this new understanding the Future Surprise can be built upon and further my area of inquiry, goals/aspirations, or even my Psyche.

Concept Map

In this concept map I tried to explore the same ideas as presented in both equations and visual models. The left side delineates the Extrinsic Spectrum while the right is the Intrinsic Spectrum. As the right and left side grow the concept map can in equally represent that of a “Future Surprise” type mandala pattern - almost as if staring at the model from a frontal view rather than a profile (side) view. The colors are a bit arbitrary but stems from the red and blue circles where I would be the center of both the intrinsic and extrinsic spectrums. The colored in blocks denote intrinsic qualities while those on the left and outlined are extrinsic qualities. 

Shelf of Stuff

My shelf of stuff depicts some of the values indicated in my personal concept. On the left side I depict more of the extrinsic items and on the left more of intrinsic properties (found on the right). 
Things like tea (wildcard), family, nature (wildcard), and travel are sets of extrinsic properties that help to shape what is on the Intrinsic items including (featured on the right): writing, learning, and ideation, as well as the characteristics that go with these items like creativity, out-of-the box thinking, intuition, attention, and mindfulness. I included a mandala pattern in the back of my shelf that bridges both sides. I feel this pattern symbolically and culturally depicts the magnitude of the universe and life, for which I feel is a strong symbolic pattern that has trailed throughout the entirety of this course, as well as my exploration on Louis Pasteur’s quote “Chance favors the prepared mind.” I left the middle space empty as I recognize this shelf is constantly growing and can foresee as I grow, change, and morph that the items and even my shelf itself will be subject to growth, change, and transformation. What is most interesting I find in this shelf form of modeling, is the recognition of what is important for me in the now, and how this might change in the future.

Reflection

Chance can be both positive and negative and a preparation of one’s Psyche will thus influence an outcome. These outcomes can be both positive and negative but it’s in the reflection that shifts how this outcome might be handled going forward. Building a strong Psyche and Mindfulness, I believe perpetuates better reflection and resilience to setbacks. Therefore throughout my life it’s important to practice these invaluable skills of mindfulness, meditation, and maintaining a healthy psyche.

I value the weekly open discussions and ability for each member of the team to share out their perspectives and outlooks on life, goals, interests, and minds. We got to connect not only with our peers but with our instructors to gain a greater understandings of ourselves and perceptions. I felt all activities both inside and outside contributed to developing a unique and attentive mindset to the world around us and explore this introspective version of ourselves we rarely get to explore in other academic settings.

I think this research group was unique and unconventional in respects to HCI research, learning, and interdisciplinary exploration. In looking introspectively and understanding how our minds work to acquire and make use of information, I thought of new methodologies and ways of approaching situations - simply put a new style of learning. After experiencing traditional classroom setting and  an intellectual salon/ think tank type atmosphere, I recommend open classroom dynamics as am means to openly and creatively share ideas which in turn curate individual interest and knowledge. In this style of learning you really get out what you put in!