This was a conference presentation which produced a discussion about Heidegger and tertiary teaching.

2. How to produce a greatHow to produce a great
business skills coursebusiness skills course

3. TodayToday
Course revisionCourse revision
Martin HeideggerMartin Heidegger
Hermeneutic methodHermeneutic method
Some prejudicesSome prejudices

4. The business courseThe business course
Traditional business degree
Open Polytechnic’s strategic direction
Skills
Practical constraints

5. Assumptions about skillsAssumptions about skills
The notion of a skill
Engagement with ..
Cognitive skills
Transferability
What counts as a “business” skill

6. The course begins ...The course begins ...
I teachI teach Understanding Business EnvironmentsUnderstanding Business Environments..
My job is to help you pass this course.My job is to help you pass this course.
The title of the course indicates two things.The title of the course indicates two things.
First, that the course is concerned withFirst, that the course is concerned with
business environments. This means anythingbusiness environments. This means anything
that impacts on a business is a legitimate partthat impacts on a business is a legitimate part
of the course.of the course.

7. The second part of the title is by far the most importantThe second part of the title is by far the most important
part.part.
It says the course is about “understanding”. Who is toIt says the course is about “understanding”. Who is to
understand? You are to understand. It is yourunderstand? You are to understand. It is your
understanding that is important, not mine and notunderstanding that is important, not mine and not
anyone else’s understanding.anyone else’s understanding.
How are you to achieve understanding? There is onlyHow are you to achieve understanding? There is only
one way for you to gain understanding, and that is byone way for you to gain understanding, and that is by
thinking. Only by thinking is it possible for anyone tothinking. Only by thinking is it possible for anyone to
understand the ideas that concern us. Consequently, itunderstand the ideas that concern us. Consequently, it
is my job to help you to think.is my job to help you to think.

8. Theory to assist courseTheory to assist course
developmentdevelopment
Pedagogy
Thinking
Techniques for
students

9. Heidegger himselfHeidegger himself

12. Inwood begins his bookInwood begins his book
He was (with the possible exception of Wittgenstein) theHe was (with the possible exception of Wittgenstein) the
greatest philosopher of the twentieth century.greatest philosopher of the twentieth century.
He was (with the possible exception of Hegel) the greatestHe was (with the possible exception of Hegel) the greatest
charlatan ever to claim the title of 'philosopher', a mastercharlatan ever to claim the title of 'philosopher', a master
of hollow verbiage masquerading as profundity.of hollow verbiage masquerading as profundity.
He was an irredeemable German redneck, and, for a time,He was an irredeemable German redneck, and, for a time,
a gullible and self-important Nazi.a gullible and self-important Nazi.

14. Heidegger - pedagogyHeidegger - pedagogy
Student autonomyStudent autonomy
Teacher’s taskTeacher’s task
Real problemsReal problems

15. Student expectationsStudent expectations
The call for methodThe call for method
A method forA method for thinkingthinking
Goal isGoal is understandingunderstanding
Heidegger’s hermeneutic methodHeidegger’s hermeneutic method

16. HermeneuticsHermeneutics
= Interpretation= Interpretation
TraditionalTraditional
Written textsWritten texts
Bible, law, literatureBible, law, literature
ModernModern
Verbal, non-verbalVerbal, non-verbal
GadamerGadamer
Truth & MethodTruth & Method

18. Hermeneutics in HeideggerHermeneutics in Heidegger
Our way of beingOur way of being
Our way of thinkingOur way of thinking
Hermeneutic circleHermeneutic circle
A method for studentsA method for students

19. Our way of beingOur way of being
Our human way of being (living / existing)Our human way of being (living / existing)
Time is not want we say it is:Time is not want we say it is:
The momentThe moment
Your situation in its totalityYour situation in its totality
Your concern is your futureYour concern is your future

20. Our way of thinkingOur way of thinking
Being is acting (eg thinking)Being is acting (eg thinking)
Time is not what we say it is:Time is not what we say it is:
Unity of past present futureUnity of past present future
The way of thoughtThe way of thought
Hermeneutic circleHermeneutic circle
Not viciousNot vicious

21. A method for studentsA method for students
Your own struggleYour own struggle
The topicThe topic
Writing is the wayWriting is the way
Keep the evidenceKeep the evidence
The role of literatureThe role of literature