Brainstorming–a popular method for teaching writing–doesn’t really work. See this fascinating piece in the New Yorker
“Groupthink–the Brainstorming Myth”
It got me thinking about other popular teaching myths. One of them, labeling learners as V or A or K (VAK)–visual, aural, or kinesthetic learners–has also been debunked. Yet it remains popular, especially in special education.
Why is it that unproven or disproven methods continue to be popular? Why? And why do we stay with them even when they are not effective? Is it that these ‘methods’ are so intuitive that they must be true and must work! Is it like the old saying–“My mind’s made up. don’t confuse me with the facts.”
About Miriam
Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, JD, MA—an expert in public education, focused on special education law— is a lawyer, author, speaker, consultant, and reformer.
For more than 35 years, Miriam worked with educators, parents, policy makers, and citizens to translate complex legalese into plain English and focus on good practices for children.
Now, she focuses her passion on reforming special education, with her new book, Special Education 2.0—Breaking Taboos to Build a NEW Education Law. Presentations include those at the AASA Conference, Orange County (CA), Boston College (MA), CADRE (OR), and the Fordham Institute (DC). Her writings have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Education Week, Education Next, Hoover Digest, The University of Chicago Law Review on line, DianeRavitch.net, and The Atlantic Monthly on line.
No Comments
Be the first to start a conversation