Reflective Writing 11.14.09

We discussed and reviewed the 1st and 2nd chapters of Daniels H. Pink’s “A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future”. In our discussion we explored the right brain and it’s rising, the impact it truly has on the ability for it to process information and in the comparison the capability of the left brain and it’s role in processing information. We reviewed how in the age of Hippocrates, physicians agreed that the left side because it housed the heart was the most important half. We discussed that as the times passed scientist made new discoveries about the brain such as French neurologist PauI Broca the 1860 discovered that a portion of the left brain controlled our ability to speak. Then a German neurologist, Carl Wernicke discovered it’s ability to understand language.

We debated the conclusion the belief that “Language is what separated man from beast and that since language was on the left side of the brain, this is what make us human.” Many teachers did not agree with this statement stating that animals do have their own language and manner of communication and that we as humans, is just different.

Roger W. Speery reshaped this way of thinking when he discovered that the “subordinate” or “minor hemisphere of the brain” which was thought o be illiterate and mentally retarded could perform certain kinds of functions and eventually realized the hemispheres were different not necessarily inferior. In addition we discussed that due to Speery’s research and the FMRI that allowed researchers to watch the brain in action, paved the way for the legitimacy of the right brain.

Of course, giving the fact that we are an arts teacher, we know more clearly than anyone the importance of the functions and roles of the two hemispheres of the brain. In fact for some time, I have developed strategies specific to the learner based upon the objective I am attempting to achieve and the weakness of the students. Since some students are accustomed to using one hemisphere more than the other. I believe that it is important for the learner to understand where they are week and develop exercises to help develop an awareness that will allow them to the explore how the two hemispheres together can make them a better student.