memorize this formula

"Eric Jensen—a leading expert in the translation of brain research into education, argues in Enriching the Brain that we greatly underestimate students’ achievement capacity. Drawing from a wide range of neuroscience research as well as related studies, Jensen reveals that the human brain is far more dynamic and malleable than we earlier believed. He offers us a powerful new understanding of how the brain can be “enriched,” across the board to maximize learning, memory, behavior and overall function. The bottom line is we have far more to do with how our children’s brains turn out than we previously thought. Enriching the Brain shows that lasting brain enrichment doesn’t occur randomly through routine or ordinary learning. It requires a specific, and persistent experiences that amount to a “formula” for maximizing brain potential. Parents, teachers and policy-makers would do well to memorize this formula. In fact, the lifelong potential of all school age kids depends on whether or not we use it. Offering an inspiring and innovative set of practices for promoting enrichment in the home, the school, and the classroom, this book is a clarion call. All of us, from teachers to parents to policymakers must take their role as ‘brain shapers’ much more seriously and this book gives the tools with which to do it."

I have no idea whether this book is yet another bypass-the-basics, here comes China! type deal.

Conceivably, it isn't. I say conceivably because Enriching the Brain comes from the NCEE, and The Gadfly appears to think the world of the NCEE.

Seeing as how The Gadfly believes in teaching the liberal arts, I'm assuming the NCEE isn't an active opponent of the content-rich curriculum so beloved by parents and liberal arts professors alike.

Still. The language isn't promising. Also, as far as I can tell we're nowhere near the point at which it would be either possible or desireable to have experts in the "translation" of brain research into education. Pretty sure I'm dead right on that one.

[update: Yes. I'm right. And....Eric Jenson is a professional development guy. Given that 99% of all professional development outfits appear to be peddling cr**, I'm going to hope Eric Jenson won't be professionally developing any teachers around here.]

What makes me chuckle is the injunction to parents, teachers, and policy-makers to memorize the formula for promoting brain enrichment through the wholesale rejection of routine or ordinary learning.

Wouldn't memorizing the formula be routine and ordinary?

Somehow no one ever seems to pick up on the fact that the minute school administrators, department chairs, and experts in the translation of brain research into education want people actually to know something they start talking direct instruction and memorize the formula.

Memorizing formulas is actually a lousy way to acquire knowledge, but these folks are so fixated on enriching the brain they have no idea how to get content into long-term memory by any means other than brute-force.

(Have I mentioned I've renamed "rote memorization" brute memorization? Well, I have.)

That's one of Hirsch's points in The Knowledge Deficit.

Constructivism inevitably leads to drill and kill the minute the state tests roll around. Because constructivists don't know any other way.


ask the cognitive scientist

We don't need experts translating brain research into education.

We need cognitive scientists translating empirical research on learning and memory into education.