E. G. Feulner

History

Brain research in conjunction with human behavior and the development of human cognition and learning started at the beginning of the 20^th century. Political developments after the Russian Revolution and the event of Nazi-Germany and World War II interrupted the participation of international scientists in this research process, and the evolution of insights regarding human potential was divided by the Iron Curtain, not only geographically but also in content.

The West treated physiology and psychology as two distinctly different disciplines and human behavior studies were in essence based on Freudian psychology. The East continued to link human behavior and potential to increasing knowledge about the impulses and functions of our brain. The research included studies of unusual manifestations of human talent and memory which produced amazing results.

In the mid-seventies, as a small temporary window opened in the Iron Curtain, the West had for the first time access to some of the brain research and ensuing results in the East. From then on there has been constant progress to augment, combine and test research processes that had been divided for nearly 70 years.

Learning is at the heart of human behavior and cognition studies. Today we have a formidable group of researchers and practitioners in the West who advocate in some form or other ‘brain-based’ learning. However, there is only slow acceptance of this new basis for learning among mainstream educators.

Facts

Methodologies

Howard Gardner, Walter Jensen, Georgi Lozanov are but a few names who have developed learning strategies based on the specific functions of the brain. Pilot projects testing these brain-based learning strategies are increasing.

Cristalla.com has adopted Howard Gardner’s concept of "multiple intelligences" in creating an online/offline interface for learning based on brain functions and human potential. Gardner’s theories and practices demonstrate a great variety of perceptions a human is using to understand phenomena, concepts and situations. He puts an end to the general amorphous concept of ‘human intelligence’ and highlights eight very specific functions of our intelligence – hence – ‘multiple intelligences’. His insights have been instrumental in determining a person’s predominant ‘learning style’, but also in forming whole-brain learning approaches.

The content and design of the course "Turning the Kaleidoscope" makes it especially transparent how learning changes and deepens when different perspectives and perceptions are used in solving problems or broadening understanding.

Tools and Technologies

Educational technologies have an either/or quality. They can take joy and depth of learning away and reduce learning to a mechanistic process for the learner. On the other hand they have the ability – more than the live classroom or lecture hall – to excite and motivate the learner. Whole brain learning approaches which require of the learner to take responsibility for his/her learning, benefit particularly from the technologies and tools available today.

Mindmapping is one of these extraordinary organizational and thinking tools that will support and help develop ‘working with the whole brain’, either using paper and pencil or software. Creating mindmaps is the hands-on experience of whole brain thinking. It is truly a tool that helps to open new perspectives.

Adaptive Hyperlinking is another supporter of whole brain learning. It leads the learner to follow a path to construct knowledge and new understanding without being too much sidetracked, but retains the ability to incorporate personal impulses in pursuing a thought or a search for information.

Reflection