In a couple of my earlier posts, I explored the act of analyzing and evaluating. Both skills are important higher order thinking skills that can and must be developed in young people from an early age.
In this blog post, I want to explore the act of synthesis. We synthesize every day and at every moment. Biologically speaking, the simple act of breathing is an act of synthesis!
But what does it mean in the context of skills and education?
There are various definitions of the word ‘synthesize, and here are a few:
“Combine different ideas in order to create new understanding.” (International Baccalaureate Organization, MYP)
“To make (something) by combining different things” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
“To combine separate ideas, beliefs, styles, etc.” (Oxford Learner’s Dictionary)
At its most basic level, synthesis involves combining two or more things together to create a fusion of the different things. These things can be abstract notions such as ideas, beliefs, or concepts. They can also be more concrete or tangible things like colors or words. If the process involves putting two or more things together, it is synthesis.
Let’s take a couple of examples.
A chef wanted to post her food on social media. For this, she learnt photo and video skills. Then, she was able to synthesize her knowledge and skills of cooking and digital media to create an Instagram account where she posted her recipes.
A student is doing research on the Indian Independence Movement. He decides to collect primary and secondary sources consisting of multiple perspectives. He then synthesizes the data he has gathered to understand the topic better.
In one’s academic career, it is important to be able to synthesize. To collect different ideas and combine them for better understanding helps in many contexts. Looking at it as a life skill, it is an inherent process of creativity where one can combine different ideas together to create something new.
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