'Perceptual Learning' Teaching Method Used At New Roads School In Santa Monica

In Santa Monica, Calif., one school is testing out a new method of learning that focuses more on gut decisions than guidelines.

It's called "perceptual learning," deals with skimming and identifying visual patterns in problems rather than the traditional method of memorization and repetition. At New Roads School, they're implementing it into the curriculum through online teaching programs, reports The New York Times.

Cognitive scientists are saying the new method hones students' intuition, helping their brains pick up on subtle shortcuts by identifying patterns within the questions asked. It's not a method of cheating, they say, it's about developing quick judgments -- something they've studied in successful learners.

Philip J. Kellman, a psychologist at UCLA who developed the technology behind the learning style, explains the philosophy behind the learning style to CBS News, saying:

"If you study people who are really good at things, always the first thing that jumps out is these people are picking up information differently."

WATCH:

Comments

[been2there]

10:48 PM on 06/21/2011

Just what we need-- more "deciders" who work like Bush! Reasoned decisions are so much better for people!

[foresure]

07:56 PM on 06/20/2011

Oh boy. A new educaional theory. That should put some money into the hands of bureaucrats and experts.

Plenty of research projects for Master's and Doctorates in Education.

Gee, maybe if a school system examind the curriculum and school rules of a Catholic Parochial School from the 1950's it could save a lot of money.

I am not Catholic, but I do know, that in public school, in the fifties, the threat of being thrown out of public school was either reform school or Catholic school, a fate worse than death.

When I was in high school I was uncomfortable seeing Catholic school students in their uniforms, figuring that they were being tortured or something.

Much later, I discover they had a superior system. Compare student achievement among minorities in public and private schools, and you can save millions in research.

[SeptimusDSX]

07:53 PM on 06/20/2011

Perhaps they should investigate how Blitz and Rapid chess players calculate quickly? Quite an interesting study.

[sawyer0413]

04:44 PM on 06/20/2011

Yikes! I think I should either sign-up or teach the "snap judgment" course. I should sign-up, because the title of this post and its associated text, sounded wildly unproven. I was thinking it was another black hole to drain education funds. I should teach the course because I instantly knew there had to be more to the story. So, I clicked the link to the NY Times piece, and I read it. This is actually good work. I sincerely wish HP would work on better summarizations of stories.

[foresure]

08:00 PM on 06/20/2011

sawyer

As you well know, all new edcuational theories work well when they are presented as new ideas by motivated teachers.



Doctors know to prescribe new drugs when are new on the market, and nice and fresh.

[sawyer0413]

10:41 PM on 06/20/2011

So, I should sign-up to teach the class during the first semester only? ***chuckle***