Improve Grades in School Through the "Cube of Learning"

In the mid-80's, when teamwork was the buzz word that didn't stop buzzing, Yale professor Robert Sternberg gained considerable attention with his view of high-performing teams. They should be made up, he insisted, of at least one person who is knowledgeable about the process, one who is analytical, and one who is creative.

Fast forward 30 years. Sternberg is now provost and psychology professor at Oklahoma State. And, he is still offering valuable insights into the learning process, which, he says, is more than analytical thinking. http://communitycollegespotlight.org/content/measuring-academic-drift_3674/

Sternberg is certainly not the first to realize that deep learning is not one-dimensional. The well-rounded student does well in areas that go beyond high SAT scores in math and English. She can talk knowledgeably in areas beyond the scope of her major and her minor studies.

Nearly a half-century ago, psychologist J.P. Guildford provided a broad view of intelligence via his "cube of intellect." He said there are 180 (the number was later reduced to 120) components of intelligence. And, in the 80's, Howard Gardner was also quoted often regarding his theory of multiple intelligences.

The question for parents and teachers, and perhaps even students themselves, is this.: How can we optimize the learning experience so it spills over to many disciplines and requires thought in several cognitive areas? How do we avoid the "drift"? (As noted in the article-reference above, more than a third of college students show no improvement in their reasoning or writing skills, even after four years of college.)

DEEP-LEARNING TIP

One thing you (teacher, parent, or student) can do to extend the learning is simple. Ask at least one question following an encounter with new learning. For example, How can this knowledge be applied to my present or future circumstances?

And convert the learning experience to a written comment. Journals are fine, but more challenging would be "translating" new knowledge into a limerick or haiku. Or even a rhyme.

Yes, it takes work to make learning stick. And to extend its boundaries. But, as every circus employee knows, work can be fun! Derive pleasure from making your learning experiences both broad and deep.

To further help your child learning, consider a program at KnowledgePoints, which  offers study skills and other subject tutoring programs (Math, Language Arts, Reading) to students of all grade levels at its center in Florham Park and serving the surrounding communities of Morristown, Parsippany, Livingston, Madison and East Hanover.  For more information, contact us at 973-593-0050.