Reflections on the Teaching of Gerbert of Aurillac

For one born to French peasants, Gerbert took advantage of exceptional educational opportunities: monastic training at Aurillac; mathematical studies in Spain; tutoring the Pope and Emperor in Rome. Serving Reims cathedral school for twenty-five years, Gerbert transformed its curriculum and practice...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Cavicchi, Elizabeth
Other Authors: Edgerton Center (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Format: Article
Published: Universitalia 2023
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/152169
Description
Summary:For one born to French peasants, Gerbert took advantage of exceptional educational opportunities: monastic training at Aurillac; mathematical studies in Spain; tutoring the Pope and Emperor in Rome. Serving Reims cathedral school for twenty-five years, Gerbert transformed its curriculum and practices; his students disseminated these innovations across Europe. Gerbert's teaching was research: seeking out unsanctioned, classical texts; analyzing mathematical arguments; observing the sky. His students did what they learned: speaking; observing; making music. He invented instructional instruments: diagrams; an abacus; astronomical spheres. He nurtured relationships of trust among teachers and students. Gerbert's creativity is a provocative impetus for us to face pedagogic inadequacies and develop responsive teaching that stands the test of time.