Noticing the Notice

“A succession of experiences does not add up to an experience of that succession and indicates why intentional noticing is necessary.” – Immanuel Kant

Mason suggested that reflection plays a big role in the art of noticing – to notice the succession of experiences. The “reflection” mentioned here is not as palpable as you think. Instead, it is a learning process that is based on experience and more. We always notice things, things that we see daily, like say, a billboard on the way to work or university. But this billboard would only come to existence if it is brought up “intentionally”. Take note on the “intentional”, it is only when mentioned, be it verbal or visual, that we recall certain things, certain things that are stored at a secluded corner of our minds. If, and only if, we live in our experiences, and not just physically being there, we might notice something different in our everyday routine.

Professional noticing, however, from what I understand is both similar and different to intentional noticing. Professional noticing is when we intentionally heighten our noticing capabilities because the setting demands us to, or it is just because we put ourselves into those situations. Mason says in his article, ‘Perhaps when reading a book or article, something is described or suggested and we can see ourselves ‘doing that’ in our own way in our own context. But all too often we put down the book or leave the session, the thing which seemed so salient and important at the time recedes into distant memory, perhaps never to re-appear.’

The statement could not be more well put and defined.

For a more personal review on the application of noticing, check out Kimberly’s post.