TEDxManhattanBeach - Melanie West - Visual and Auditory Learning - How To Teach It

Talk title: Visual and auditory learning -- how to teach it

When Melanie studied chemistry as a sophomore in college, she faced a problem in understanding. Although she read words in her textbook over and over, no meaning seemed to come through to her. She felt an inability to learn from that textbook - she was unable to form pictures of the information in her mind. Years later as an educational psychologist Melanie recognized a similar pattern in students having trouble learning. Children are taught to read, write and memorize, but these activities are separate from learning. Rote memorization can have a crippling effect on the developing brain for children who are "picture thinkers." The same children can experience astonishing improvements in academic performance when given the opportunity to "see learning."

Melanie West is an educational psychologist and the author of The Right Side of Learning. She specializes in designing techniques that stimulate both sides of the brain, to keep children in emotional and neurological balance while learning. She firmly believes that in a world of left-brain curricula, some of the most intelligent and creative thinkers are underachieving and misunderstood. Melanie's mission is to show parents and teachers alike that there is no such thing as an average student.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxManhattanBeach, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxManhattanBeach event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• tedxmanhattanbeach
• tedx
• melanie west
• the right side of learning

[DavidERichardson1]

Brilliant program about right brain, left brain learning. I also used visualization or picture activation to understand and memorize for my bs, ms, and Ph.D. degrees and taught that to my sons (two Ph.D.s, one ms, one law degree from Columbia) and daughters (four bs degrees). Keep up the good work, Melanie. Your father and I were also fellow rocket scientists in the aerospace industry. He was brilliant. Like father like daughter. Dr. David E. Richardson

[MyPetSquirrel123]

Your message has made a significant difference with many families. Thank you for continuing to help our community.

[dberger710]

Awesome and invaluable! Melanie is very talented and a true leader in childhood education!

[cosadue]

Melanie, you are inspiring beyond words! DB

[itanocosner]

Awesome job Mel! CIC