What It Will Actually Take To Change Education

These days whenever I ask someone what they think of education, I never get a positive response. Everyone, however, can target something as the cause, usually blaming unions, parents, lack of money, or bad teachers (feel free to add your own).

 The fact is that lots of people are trying to change education. The result is that a lot of money is spent… and very little changes at all. Here’s what I think is holding the entire edifice stagnant.  It is our collective belief about what learning and teaching look like in school. Read the following and ask yourself if you believe that the elements of teaching listed below are essential to learning.

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Jan 25, 2012 Posted by In Featured, Teaching methods Tagged , , , Comments 1

Education3.0 and the Five Human Dimensions

“Which is most important,” Zen Master and legendary martial artist Sensei Hidy Ochiai asked the one-hundred black belt students at the end of a masters’ karate class, “mind, body, or spirit?” The anxiety in the room was palpable. Who would have the courage and confidence to raise a hand? There was a long pause, then, “Tell me your answer at our next class.”  Whew! There was an audible sigh of relief.

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Nov 15, 2011 Posted by In Featured, Social Emotional Learning Tagged , , , Comments 1

What’s the Purpose of Education in the 21st Century?

When I conduct workshops for parents and educators and ask them, “Do you want kids to have a quality educational experience?” they all say, “Yes.” With enthusiasm. I have yet to have a parent or teacher say to me, “No. We’re looking for a mediocre experience. Maybe even a poor one. Quality is seriously over-rated.” No. There is universal agreement that we want our kids to have the best educational experience we can offer them. The problem comes when we start to define exactly what we mean by “a quality educational experience.” At that point, differences begin to surface. We quickly discover that there are different ideas about what we want for our kids when it comes to their education and the purpose of education.

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Oct 13, 2011 Posted by In Featured, Parents Tagged , , , Comments 0

Encouraging the Artist in Every Child

Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” A quick glance around an African-American friend’s home recently showed me that he and many of his relatives have, delightfully, not grown up. At least, not in the way that concerned Picasso. 

This was a home where important values were taught, including honesty, courage, and respect, and these same values could be seen on walls and pedestals around the house revealed in paint, pencil, fabric, wood, and stoneware, to name but a few of the media utilized in the work of so many creative family members, including the two children.

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Oct 5, 2011 Posted by In Featured, Multiculturalism Tagged , , , Comments 1

Natural Learning Principles – Critical for Education

Have you ever heard the word “research based” and wondered what exactly it means?  Today, research based tends to mean that someone used a particular strategy and demonstrated that students were able to recall more information and do better on tests.

But hidden in that definition of research based are deeply held beliefs, biases and assumptions about what it means to learn.  And if you look closely, there is no real definition of learning here.  From our point of view, the meaning of learning is assumed.

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Jun 16, 2011 Posted by In Brain Based Learning, Educators, Featured, Gurus Tagged , , Comments 1

Using Natural Learning to Teach Basic Math

One way to substantially raise standards across the board is to identify and tap into learning capacities of students that are not already being used. Natural learning (formerly “brain based learning” as we originally defined it) is beautifully positioned to provide guidance. The reason? Natural learning takes for granted that a learner is a whole person – a living system – and that every aspect of a person contributes to his or her learning. Body, brain, and mind are all interacting (though they may not be operating every effectively). What does this mean in practice? Let’s look at basic math as an example. We will take it step by step, from the very general to the quite specific. …

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Jun 16, 2011 Posted by In Brain Based Learning, Educators, Featured, Gurus, Parents Tagged , , , Comments 0

The Three Elements of Great Teaching

The 12 Brain/Mind Learning Principles describe several processes that are all happening at the same time.  The body is active.  Senses are engaged.  Students are searching for meaning and trying to understand.  The way that they connect with others powerfully influences what they are thinking and feeling.  And so on.

Notice that the Principles rely on teaching that is dynamic, i.e., experiential, project based, challenging and largely student directed.

There is just too much going on for each element to be addressed separately by teachers as they teach.  However, some general patterns emerge from the principles that become a very useful frame of reference for teaching.  We just refer to them as the three core elements of effective teaching.  Here they are.

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Jun 15, 2011 Posted by In Brain Based Learning, Educators, Featured, Gurus Tagged , , , Comments 0

Multiculturalism

Definition

Multiculturalism is based on the belief that varying cultural dynamics are the fourth force–along with the psychodynamic, behavioral, and humanistic forces–explaining human behavior. Since the ability to recognize our own and others’ cultural lenses is essential to all learning, it must be taught, along with communication and thinking skills, as prerequisites to learning.

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May 12, 2011 Posted by In Educators, Kids, Multiculturalism Tagged , , Comments 1
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