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We have discussed throughout this website about activating and igniting thinking skills that remain dormant or fragile or sluggish due to inadequate stimulation or mediation
This section (section 4) offers some further details in this regard and uses key terms and comparative language to make this more explicit.
First up comparing activating thinking to building physical muscles of the body
Activating Dormant Skills By Isolating and Targeting the Different Thinking "Muscles"
Activating Dormant Skills By Isolating and Targeting the Different Thinking "Muscles"
Like a muscle, the brain can be target trained and strengthened. And the more it is practiced correctly, the stronger the thinking pathways (muscles) become.
As discussed previously activating and igniting the weak thinking "muscles" requires coaching & mediation and involves isolating, targeting and strategic development, taking each skill step by step. It requires a mediator to help interpret information signals.
ISOLATING means 2 things - first, separating each of the skills from their subject CONTENT and focusing entirely on the mechanisms of the skill, and secondly taking each cognitive function separately at a time to study its finer detail.
Each skill is broken down into its critical operational mechanisms so children can better see their operation. This intensive focus on one skill at a time can also be described as TARGETING.
Targeting helps children understand each skill separately as well as how they work together. A particular problem may require several skills such as analysing, comparing or synthesising before a solution is reached.
The third important aspect of coaching involves a STRATEGIC APPROACH. Strategic approach allows development through different levels of complexity in a thorough and progressive manner. Strategic approach ensures no steps are missed and as such leaves no room for confusion. Targeting is also part of a strategic approach in that it takes one skill at a time to examine and develop.
SPORTS COACHES HELP ATHLETES IN A VERY SIMILAR MANNER. THE ISOLATE AND TARGET SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN A STRATEGIC MANNER
SPORTS COACHES HELP ATHLETES IN A VERY SIMILAR MANNER. THE ISOLATE AND TARGET SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN A STRATEGIC MANNER
Images courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net David Castillo
Images courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net David Castillo
No athlete can ever reach the heights of their career by practice....and practice alone. A professional coach is always necessary to isolate and target the development of necessary skills.
In other physical pursuits such as swimming, driving, or sporting, we always expect coaches to isolate, target and mediate the development of important skills. However, when it comes to THINKING SKILLS, we expect development to happen by default.
In other physical pursuits such as swimming, driving, or sporting, we always expect coaches to isolate, target and mediate the development of important skills. However, when it comes to THINKING SKILLS, we expect development to happen by default.
Leaving thinking development to occur by chance or as a by-product of engaging in other subject content could be short changing our kids future success as independent learners and thinkers.
It would be like asking children to learn sporting skills by simply playing the game without any coaching.
It would be like asking children to learn sporting skills by simply playing the game without any coaching.
Critical Questions
Critical Questions
Should we expect children to develop their thinking skills entirely from the stimulation they receive from their daily environment?
Should we rest easy that children will discover, identify and utilise their dormant thinking by means of participation and self discovery alone?
If thinking and intelligence is important then is it enough to just let our children explore their way through their intelligence development?
Is a programmed approach necessary and how is it beneficial?
What is "mastering the Process of Learning"?
Perhaps one of the most important and unique aspect of a programmed approach to teaching intelligence is the idea of neuroplasticity and the brain's ability to grow new neural pathways
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