Feuerstein, Reuven
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[edit] Reuven Feuerstein
- “Intelligence is not a static structure, but an open, dynamic system that can continue to develop throughout life�? [1]
- Dr. Reuven Feuestein is a world renowned clinical/cognitive psychologist who is best known for his belief that intelligence in people is not “fixed�?, but rather is a modifiable structure. To this end Professor Feuerstein has developed his program of Instrumental Enrichment (IE). This program is designed to help people of all ages, not just students, learn how to be better learners.
- A holocaust survivor himself, Professor Feuerstein was not convinced that the IQ tests being used to assess the intelligence of children orphaned by the holocaust were truly representative of what these children could do. Feuerstein and his colleagues reasoned that the tests being used to assess these children did not in any way account for the experience they had been through and, because of this, these tests were incapable of showing the potential the children truly had. In order to combat the idea that the children’s level of performance on these tests dictated their future abilities, Feuerstein and his colleagues re-assessed the children using tests that were designed to measure the children’s capacity for learning and not just their level of performance. The results of these assessments supported Feuerstein’s conclusions, showing that the potential of these children “had been completely submerged in the standard IQ tests�? [2].
- Since his beginning experiences with his idea of modifiable intelligence, Feuerstein’s ideas have become particularly associated with two theories: Structural Cognitive Modifiability (SCM) and Mediated Learning Experiences (MLE) [3].
[edit] Theories
===Structural Cognitive Modifiability=== – accepts people as modifiable and ultimately cognitively adaptable. Basic aspects of this theory include:
- The aim of approaches based on this theory is to modify the person based on self-motivated change.
- Intelligence is thought of as the ability to modify oneself in response to some need to do so.
- Included with the ability to modify one’s self is the ability to use that modification in future situations where appropriate.
- Cognition plays a central role in the ability to modify one’s self [3].
===Mediated Learning Experiences=== – Is a description of specialized interaction between a learner and mediator.
- 2 Forms of interaction
- Direct Learning – is learning through direct interaction between the learner and some environmental learning factor (i.e. books, laboratories, etc.).
- Mediated Learning- changes direct learning by having the mediator intercede between the learner and environmental factors.
- The purpose of the mediator is to help the learner interact more productively with learning materials and then interpret their response and, if necessary, modify their responses to increase their understanding.
- MLE theory accepts genetics, organic, experiential, and sociocultural factors as distal influences on overall cognitive development [3].
[edit] Feuerstein’s Instrumental Enrichment
- Feuerstein’s Instrumental Enrichment (FIE or IE) is a program designed to help people learn to learn and can be used to help either individuals or classrooms. To date, IE has been used in over 50 countries [4] in several different capacities, including:
- Classroom programs to increase student achievement of all students.
- Inclusion of all children in regular classrooms
- Remedial programs for special needs children.
- Cognitive rehabilitation of brain injured individuals and psychiatric patients.
- Learning enhancement programs for immigrant and cultural minority students.
- Enrichment programs for underachieving, regular and gifted children.
- Professional training and retraining programs in the industrial, military, and business sectors [3].
- As a classroom curriculum, IE is meant to help students enhance their abilities so that they can be successful in academics and other areas. In order to do this, the program is designed to:
- Change students from passive recipients of information to active, engaged learners.
- Address deficiencies in student learning skills
- Teach students new cognitive operations and techniques to help them become independent learners
- Increase student motivation
- Develop student metacognition
- Instrumental Enrichment comes in four versions in multiple languages: BASIC, STANDARD, BRAILLe and ADULT. The first two are commonly used with school aged children.
- The BASIC instruments are used in early childhood education and with developmentally delayed adolescents and adults. There are 9 instruments that take 2-3 years of daily mediation to complete.
- The STANDARD instruments are used in grades 4-12, often block scheduled with mathematics.There are 14 instruments which require 2-3 years of daily mediation to complete. The "instruments" are paper-based problem solving tasks that increase in difficulty. Each page contains 12 problems that challenge the student to use new understandings of thinking learned in each subsequent and more difficult problem. Approximately 20 pages comprise a complete instrument. Teachers are trained to mediate these content free problems, promote student metacognition and facilitate students' bridging of new thinking efficiencies into content. [3].
For an overview of the IE program and sample instruments go to: www.iriinc.us/Feuerstein
[edit] Related Links
- The International Center for the Enhancement of Learning Potential – this organization was founded to continue the research and work being done based on Professor Feuerstein’s theories.
- The Hassadah-WIZO-Canada Research Institute – this organization which was also founded by Professor Feuerstein is where much of the research and implementation of Feuerstein’s theories has taken place.
- The International Renewal Institute [1]
The International Renewal Institute is an organization that provides information and training programs on using Feuerstein's programs in North America. It conducts research on schools using the programs in North America and operates the North American Center for the Enhancement of Learning Potential. This Center provides assessments of children's learning using Feuerstein's LPAD. www.iriinc.us
