Episode 11: Learners, academic discussions, and flow

In this episode, Laura celebrates a major moment of witnessing EAP learners who had fantastic discussions. She then analyzes the success of those discussions using the 8 factors of flow as presented by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his 1990 publication, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. This analysis starts with a discussion with Ao Shen, a former EAP student of Laura's, who read the book and submitted a review in her class. Turning to the idea of flow, Laura examines the successful discussions, how flow was evident, and notes what type of learning activities might still be needed for those students who have not yet achieved a learning exchange in their discussions. 

Csikszentmihalyi describes eight characteristics of flow:

1. Complete concentration on the task;
2. Clarity of goals and reward in mind and immediate feedback;
3. Transformation of time (speeding up/slowing down);
4. The experience is intrinsically rewarding;
5. Effortlessness and ease;
6. There is a balance between challenge and skills;
7. Actions and awareness are merged, losing self-conscious rumination;
8. There is a feeling of control over the task.

Taken from: https://positivepsychology.com/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-father-of-flow/

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York: Harper and Row.