If you can stand it (where's that bucket?), here's the Whole Brain video showing a lesson in "Critical Thinking". Did someone mention George Orwell? "Critical Thinking" sounds like something out of progressive ed, but there's nothing progressive going on here.
Whole Brain Teaching: 4th Grade Critical Thinking
The teacher lists 4 alleged levels of critical thinking, beginning with "memorization", and ending with the "genius" level, "compare and contrast". He wouldn't recognize genius if Albert Einstein whacked him upside the head with a skillet (don't tempt me.)
Clearly, the Whole Brain types can't allow actual critical thinking, which would mean letting the kids form their own thoughts and opinions.
Notice the way the teacher explicitly tells the kids, "high level of excitement!"
And here's one where the teacher makes the kids beg him to be allowed to do their reading instruction. Yes, they've memorized a "begging" gesture, so it's written in to the program.
Whole Brain Teaching: 4th Grade: The Crazy Professor Reading Game
It is scary to see the glowing comments that accompany these videos on youtube. Maybe we could start a campaign to leave negative comments? People should know that this is controversial.
Update: here's a fabulous source for complaints about Chris Biffle, the inventor of Whole Brain Teaching. It's the comments of students who took his "philosophy" course.
Chris Biffle -- Crafton Hills College -- RateMyProfessors.com
One student writes: "I'm not sure if he wants me to learn anything or just memorize a bunch of useless info." I couldn't have said it better myself.
Since when is "memorization" a part of critical thinking?
ReplyDeleteIt's like breaking down the idea of intelligence....
From PsychMom
PsychMom again.....I read the comments on RateMyProfessor to page 2...that's all I needed to confirm the obvious. Philosophy of all things!!!! If there was ever a course that has nothing to do with memorization, philosophy would be it.
ReplyDeleteThere's a comment on RateMyProfessor that refers to Biffle's "new-age military-style teaching." It does seem to me to be a case of edu-babble meets militarism meets pseudo-progressive new-ageism--with a soupcon of pseudo "brain science" thrown in for good measure. I sure hope this teaching "philosophy" is not being taken seriously in teachers' colleges...I do know there is a program for learning French that involves gestures. It is very popular in some of the private schools where I live. It is actually very highly regarded, but it always struck me as odd. It's as if the kids have to learn two languages, French and the sign language used to teach it.
ReplyDeletenorthTOMom, here's a bit of the comment from RateMyProfessor you mentioned:
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Biff's new-age militaty-style teaching technoques were an insult to my intelligence. You are his pupet and his slave.
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I liked this comment from RateMyProfessors:
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This was the most obnoxious class i have ever taken! this guy is a power freak! its like a game of simon says every day in class.
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and this:
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I'm sure in his mind he's making learning fun. In reality, he's making learning insulting.
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northTOmom, funny you should mention sign language. I was thinking just the other day, if your teaching method relies on gestures, why not teach the kids sign language? At least they'll wind up with a useful skill.
I agree. American Sign Language is something worth teaching and learning. Not so, these gestures. I should add, though, that the French as a second language program I mentioned (called AIM--Accelerative Integrated Method) is not really anything like this Whole Brain stuff. Its only real similarity is the use of gestures.
ReplyDeleteGotta love the comment from NCWBTeacher after the video:
ReplyDelete"Actually, as any educator knows, your students must have a solid understanding of the basic vocabulary and concepts of the subject you are teaching them. They must speak the same language as it were, before it is possible to move effectively to critical thinking, This video is demonstrating that, the first steps to teach the kids the same language so that the critical thinking exercises can begin in earnest."
Yeah, "as any educator knows," unquestioning obedience to authority is the first step toward critical thinking. Didn't I read that in "1984"?
Thank God!! I finally found some critical comments on Chris Biffle's "Whole Brain Teaching" crap. I am an Ed student and a fellow student is in love with this method of teaching and classroom management. She even created a blob about it! I think it looks ridiculous and cannot see how it would be an effective way to get students to learn. It certainly doesn't foster meta-cognition.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous -- I've decided that one of the functions of this blog is to act as a voice of dissent against Whole Brain Teaching.
ReplyDeleteIn case you didn't know, the reason you don't see any dissenting comments on any site controlled by Chris Biffle is because he deletes them all. I myself have been banned from commenting on Whole Brain youtube videos, after asking a series of polite questions (example: "How could a child ask a question?")
I should add that if you want to read all the posts about WBT, you can click on "Whole Brain Teaching" in the topics list to your right ...
ReplyDelete(in case you didn't know that already)
FedUpMom,
ReplyDeleteI hadn't noticed the WBT topic in the list, but thanks. I emailed my friend a link to this blog so we could both enjoy the Chris Biffle put downs!! Neither of us have bought into the WBT thing. In fact, we are quite sure our profs have ben critical of it as well (we are both ed students).
Our school district is embracing this. I am really upset. There is no scientific proof that this works, in fact neuroscience seems to disprove this. Your brain works together all of the time. I have found some scientific articles against this, but not enough specifically about him or his method.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, please take a look at my latest post.
ReplyDeleteNeuroscientists on Whole Brain Teaching
I posted on 9/30 about my concern with the school system adopting this hokum. I am calling the distric now and starting my battle. I have included here some informative links about how there is NO credible evidence this teaching style works.
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.cathy-moore.com/2010/09/learning-styles-worth-our-time
http://www.evidencesoup.com/canopener/2010/09/more-evidence-that-learning-styles-arent-backed-by-evidence.html
http://www.evidencesoup.com/canopener/2009/12/new-evidence-raises-doubts-about-some-teaching-methods.html
Samantha M-G, it's good to hear from you. Please let us know of your progress. Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, one word of advice that I would give to anyone dealing with the school system is to try to get a group together. It's harder for them to marginalize a group than a single person.
Thanks! I have started my own little "grassroots" movement! My husband and another friend and his ex-wife are outraged and we have taken it upon ourselves to contact and educate the other parents. The PTO has now been notified and we can force a meeting this month with the principal and director of curriculum if we need to. I have also sent a detailed email to the director of curriculum about the talk we had (it wasn't all bad) with cc's to the district superintendent, the director of education for the State of Delaware and the principal and vice principal. My friend did meet with the principal and she waffled on some things she previously told his ex-wife. I have a lot of political connections and I stated very politely in my email that I hope I do not have to use my contacts to stop this ridiculous program. I am feeling pretty good right now. I'll keep you posted as our battle continues!
ReplyDelete