S3E11: Kimberly Berens on Blind Spots and Behavior Science
Apr 3, 2024
auto_awesome
Kimberly Berens, author of "Blind Spots" and founder of Fit Learning, dives into the fascinating intersection of behavior science and education. She unravels misconceptions about behavioral approaches, emphasizing their benefits for marginalized students. Berens discusses the critical role of environmental factors in developing literacy skills and redefines intrinsic motivation in learning. Additionally, she critiques traditional views of intelligence and stresses personalized instruction over strict developmental milestones, showcasing that effective teaching can unlock potential for all.
The application of behavior science in education emphasizes the importance of explicit instruction and frequent practice for academic success.
Kimberly Behrens challenges traditional views on learning disabilities, advocating for better instructional strategies instead of labeling students based on assessments.
Achieving fluency in foundational skills is crucial for students to understand complex concepts, thereby preventing disengagement and negative experiences in learning.
Deep dives
The Science of Learning and Instruction
The integration of behavior science into educational practices is essential for effective instruction. Kimberly Behrens emphasizes that mastering foundational skills through explicit instruction and repeated practice is crucial for academic success. She illustrates this with the example of Fit Learning, where students achieve rapid growth in skills—gaining a full year's progress in just 40 hours of teaching. This approach is grounded in the principles of behavior science, where learning is seen as the result of behaviors being reinforced over time.
Reevaluating Learning Disabilities
A significant point raised in the discussion is the misconception surrounding learning disabilities. Behrens argues that many learning challenges attributed to neurological or psychological issues are often the result of ineffective instruction rather than inherent deficits. She highlights that neuropsychological assessments measure performance but do not directly assess learning, thereby making inferences that can mislabel students. This perspective encourages a shift in focus from blaming the child to improving instructional strategies and practices.
The Importance of Fluency in Education
Fluency in core subjects is highlighted as a central component to successful education. Behrens argues that students who achieve fluency in foundational skills, such as phonics for reading or basic math facts, can master more complex concepts much faster. The discussion stresses that without this foundational fluency, students struggle as they progress through grades, leading to disengagement and negative learning experiences. The education system must prioritize developing these essential skills before introducing more complex topics.
Myths of Intrinsic Motivation
The podcast challenges the myth that intrinsic motivation naturally drives students to learn complex subjects like reading. Behrens asserts that intrinsic motivation develops only after students have reached a certain level of skill and success, which is achieved through structured reinforcement and practice. She emphasizes that students are unlikely to show intrinsic interest in skills they do not yet grasp and argues that educators must first facilitate skill acquisition. This perspective redefines how motivation should be fostered in educational environments.
Critique of Modern Education Practices
Behrens critiques contemporary educational practices that emphasize content over competency. She contends that curricula often attempt to expose students to vast amounts of content without ensuring mastery of foundational skills, leading to a lack of proficiency in essential subjects. This 'throwing spaghetti at the wall' approach results in countless students falling behind, particularly those who may not have the same educational support at home. According to Behrens, educational reform must focus on mastering foundational skills to create a generation of proficient learners.
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I have the great pleasure of interviewing Kimberly Berens, the author of Blind Spots: Why students fail and the science that can save them and the founder of Fit Learning, an organization that combines the science of learning, precision teaching, direct instruction, and curriculum-based measurement, into one comprehensive approach. … Continue reading S3E11: Kimberly Berens on Blind Spots and Behavior Science
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode