Reuven Feuerstein

Professor Reuven Feuerstein (born August 21, 1921 in Botoşani, Romania) (hebrewפוירשטיין) is a Jewish medical doctor of the originator of the theory of Structural Cognitive Modifiability (SCM), the theory of Mediated Learning Experience (MLE), and Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE). The idea that intelligence can be taught is at the core of Prof. Feuerstein’s work.

Feuerstein studied at the University of Geneva under Jean Piaget, Andre Rey, Barbel Inhelder, and Marguerite Loosli Uster and is a peer of Lev Vygotsky. He is the chairman of the International Center for Enhancement of Learning Potential (ICELP) in Jerusalem. The concepts that intelligence is plastic and changeable, not fixed, and that intelligence can be "taught" are central to the theory of Structural Cognitive Modifiability. Intelligence can be developed within a mediated learning environment created with the theory of Mediated Learning Experience. A mediator is a person who works in relationship with the learner in developing cognitive functions leading to clearer thinking and improved learning processes.

After developing these theories and a set of practices for mediation to enhance the thinking of child survivors of the Holocaust, Feuerstein uncovered teacher’s needs for methods that would ground their work in a curriculum format. To this end, he developed 14 "instruments" that mediators and students use to enrich cognitive functions and to build habits of efficient thinking. He organized these "content free" instruments into a single three-year program for students above the age of 9 known as Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment. After 50 years of success, documented by over 1500 scientific research studies with various populations including engineers at a Motorola (USA) plant, impoverished students in rural communities (Bahia, Brazil), non-literate immigrants (Ethiopia), Autistic and Down Syndrome children (Jerusalem), low-performing high school math students (Cleveland, Ohio, USA), weak readers in middle grades (Portland, Oregon, USA), and many other groups. Feuerstein developed a BASIC version of Instrumental Enrichment for use with early childhood and severely challenged adolescents. Projects throughout the State of Alaska (USA) and in Britain, Italy, India and Japan are exploring the applications of the new instruments with young children especially as a way to avoid the over-categorization of students as learning disabled.

Following is an excerpt from a diary record (Letters From Jerusalem) by Myron Tribus of the proceedings of the International Center for the Enhancement of Learning Potential 18th Annual Conference July 1997: [http://deming.ces.clemson.edu/pub/den/deming_tribus.htm]

Today we had the opening ceremonies for the 18th Annual Conference on thetwo basic theories, Structural Cognitive Modification (SCM) and MediatedLearning Experience (MLE), with their two applied methods, InstrumentalEnrichment (IE) and Learning Propensity Assessment Device (LPAD). Thereare 233 people attending the conference, representing 33 different countries.The ceremonies included remarks by Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister. He spoke of the importance of education in this new era and then went on to describe his experience at a nearby military base. There he met with somedown syndrome men, who had been mediated by Feuerstein's methods and were now serving in uniform in the Israeli Defense Forces. He spoke of the pride these men had in being able to wear the uniform and to take up their duties. He also spoke of his gratification at the acceptance of these soldiers by the military command. At one point he said,"I had great difficulty containing my emotions as I saw and talked with these down syndrome afflicted men."

Netanyahu also said, "A country should be judged by how it cares for the mostvulnerable of its citizens."

As part of the opening ceremonies, Prof. Feuerstein said, "InstrumentalEnrichment has been tested for a very long time on a very large population,of great variety and has demonstrated that regardless of the source ofcognitive damage, be it from the culture shock of immigrant children,damage from physical injuries, the trauma of child abuse or extreme poverty,parental neglect ... regardless of the cause, the cognitive functioning ofpeople has been increased. Experience tells us that this increase is withoutlimit."

Reuven Feuerstein gave a long after lunch lecture on the foundations ofmediated learning and how he saw all elements (SCM), (MLE), (IE) and (LPAD)fitting together. He also decried the practice of some people merely to copysome of the materials of IE, sell them as pamphlets and then tell teachers thatall they have to do is "apply them" without benefit of theory, training orsupervision. He made the point that successful use of SCM, MLE, IE and LPADrequired an understanding of both the theory and the practice. Theory alonewould not suffice, nor would just the tools and techniques.

Prof. Feuerstein made another point: We need to understand cognitive processes,not just behavioral outcomes. Thus, MLE aims to help learners increase theircognitive competencies, not just master certain subject matter. There is nointerest in scoring progress; the objective is to help the learner improvecognitive competencies.

Bibliography

*Sharron, Howard "Changing Children's Minds: Feuerstein's Revolution in the Teaching of Intelligence" Souvenir Press Ltd (February 1991) ISBN 0-285-65034-3

FEUERSTEIN, R.; FALIK, L.H.; FEUERSTEIN, R. S.; RAND, Y. The Dynamic Assessment of Cognitive Modifiability: the learning propensity assessment device: theory, instruments and techniques. Jerusalem: The ICELP Press, 2002.

GOMES, C.M.A. Feuerstein e a Construção Mediada do Conhecimento. Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2002.

External links

* [http://www.teacherstoolbox.co.uk "Teaching Intelligence"]
* [http://www.icelp.org/asp/Professional_Team.shtm Dr. Reuven Feuerstein Chairman ICELP.ORG]
* [http://deming.ces.clemson.edu/pub/den/deming_tribus.htm "Letters from Jerusalem" Myron Tribus diary of attendance at Mediated Learning sessions]
* [http://deming.ces.clemson.edu/pub/den/deming_tribus.htm "Quality in Education According to the Teachings of Deming and Feuerstein" by Myron Tribus]
* [http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/ie/guardian.htm "An Educational Pioneer Who Proved that All Students Can Learn How to Learn In Spite of Their Impulsive Behavior, Disconnected Thinking, and Low Motivation"]
* [http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/ie/hur2.htm "Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE) as a Model for School Reform" by Meier Ben-Hur]
* [http://www.altonweb.com/cs/downsyndrome/index.htm?page=evenchen.html "The Application of the Structural Cognitive Modifiability Theory with Learners with Down's Syndrome in an Educational Framework" by Israela Even-Chen]
* [http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/ie/feuerstein.htm "Teaching and Learning Intelligence"]
* [http://starfsfolk.khi.is/solrunb/feuerst.htm Reuven Feuerstein]