“All the things that we marvel at as humans—language, reading, and even competitive sports—involve the combination and recombination of smaller pieces that become the greater whole.” Dr. Arturo Hernandez, keynote speaker for this year’s Krost Symposium at Texas Lutheran University, knows a thing or two about how we learn. In his book, Mastery, he digs deep into how new skills bloom—whether those skills fall within the realm of learning to play chess, learning to ice skate, learning to speak a language, play a musical instrument, or anything in between.
It is this process of learning, of harnessing the power of the human mind to reach toward mastery, that will be the focus of this year’s symposium.
Hernandez is an author, professor of psychology at the University of Houston, and winner of the Wilhelm Bessel Research Award and a Fulbright Global Scholar award. His keynote speech, scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, at 7 p.m. in Jackson Auditorium, will examine the process of mastery and will be followed by a book signing and meet-and-greet. This event will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.
Wednesday’s events also include a Chapel Talk with TLU’s Dr. Luigi Peñaranda, EdD Program Director in Interdisciplinary Leadership and Associate Professor of Leadership Studies, at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of the Abiding Presence on campus. Dr. Peñaranda will discuss the concept of metanoia—a profound change of heart, mind, or worldview.
That afternoon, all are welcome to join a Zoom session with Dr. Molly Gebrian entitled “Learn Faster, Perform Better,” which is specifically aimed at the process of learning within the realm of music. Dr. Gebrian is a professional violist with a background in cognitive neuroscience. Guests can join the session via a link provided on the TLU website.
The symposium continues the following day, Thursday, October 1, with a panel discussion on the learning process with Dr. Arturo Hernandez, Dr. Veronica Yan, TLU alum McKay Bloxham, and Dr. Sandy Kimbrough. That takes place at 9:30 a.m. in Wupperman Little Theatre, located in Schuech Fine Arts Center. A link to the livestream will be available on the TLU website.
Next on Thursday’s agenda is a lunch-and-learn session at 11:45 a.m. on the science of successful learning with Dr. Veronica Yan, associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin. That talk, “The Science of Successful Learning,” takes place in the Student Activity Center in Jackson Park, across from Bulldog Stadium. Pizza will be served on a first come, first served basis.
Thursday will end with a movie night—featuring a classic film about learning new things, The Karate Kid. That begins at 7 p.m. at Wupperman Little Theatre and will be MCed by TLU Professor, Dr. Casi Helbig and TLU alum McKay Bloxham.
On Friday, October 2, the symposium will wrap up with an Anti-Masterclass with Dr. Gebrian. The public is invited to join via Zoom at 2:30 p.m.
Links to this and all other events with virtual options can be found here: https://www.tlu.edu/krost-symposium/.
All of these events are free and open to the public.
