Martin warns that the concept of personalisation (Futurelab (UK) explores this concept) may turn into delivering curriculum by profiling. That is you may be categorised as a visual, aural or kinesthetic learner and material will be delivered to you based on some form of categorisation. This is not personalisation.
‘Brainology’ illustrates the flexible nature of intelligence through the awareness of brain plasticity. The brain is malleable and learning experiences will affect the connections in the brain.
Martin describes the concept of executive functions as a focus on process rather than content in learning. It includes activities such as planning, shifting(switching attention), inhibition(stop distraction), working memory(build on ideas), decision making.
He says that kids know smoking is not good for them, but they can’t control (inhibition) one or some of their execuitive functions. He says that the executive function is a bit like a rider riding an elephant. We need to get our kids to control their executive functions, like the rider on an elephant takes control of the elephant.
Martin says there is lots of opportunity to use technology to explore executive functions, but can we help kids improve their control of executive functions? He showed a pre-school progam in th US called the Tools of the Mind. A curriculum that promotes executive function. Martin says that executive functions are central to our day-to-day lives and can be improved through education.
Post a Comment