C.E. Jottings

Neuroscience - education's unfulfilled promise

On June 24th this year, TES (once The Times Educational Supplement) had an article "The False Promise of Neuroeducation" by Hilary and Steven Rose. If you want to catch the article it's behind a paywall. I did't read it - because I had just then bought the Rose's book "Can neuroscience change our minds?" A good read it was too. But I didn't quite buy in to the basic premise, of which more in a moment. I did read, many... Read more →

Has Bradley Wiggins "reached his full potential"? Not if he's minded to overcome fatigue.

Has 2012 Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins reached his full potential? Have you? Do you know anyone who has? Perhaps the problem lies with the whole notion of "reaching potential"? One of the minor irritations of the Murdoch press is the paywall. Behind it are two of the most interesting journalists writing occasional articles about human performance: sports writer Matthew Syed and Chief Sports Correspondent Matt Dickinson. Just such an article recently was that by Matt Dickinson "Cyclists can... Read more →

Potential nonsense. Reach it or unlock it, if you know what it is.

"Potential", in mainstream educational discourse is everywhere to be "reached" or "unlocked". Here's a fine example. I have, as they say, "redacted' the name of the institution. "XXX’s purpose is: Unlocking Potential Through Learning. With a nationwide network of colleges and training centres, we work with more than 20,000 businesses and 133,000 learners every year, regionally and nationally, to help them reach their full potential and build a talented workforce through high quality training.” Does anyone have any idea what... Read more →

Fools rush in ... "we now know how people's brains work" says KFC Marketing Director

"Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread," was never truer than when it comes to neuroscience. The following is reported on the excellent 'MindHacks' blog, a posting entitled "The scan says add fries and call it a special". "Marketing magazine has an interview with the marketing director of KFC who explains why he thinks neuroscience holds the key to selling deep-fried junk food. “Marketing as a whole is undergoing transformation,” he says. “We now know through neuroscience how people’s... Read more →

An afternoon pleasantly spent reading

Retirement has compensations, it seems. This afternoon I have largely spent slumped in an easy chair, the MacBook Pro propped open and balanced between my knee and the arm of the chair, guiltlessly reading. An altogether pleasant occupation. 2015, I hope, will offer more such afternoons. What have I been reading? Something I would not previously have found time to linger with: One is Not Born a Personality - Profiles of Soviet Educational Psychologists By Karl Levitin, Edited by Professor... Read more →

Who's in charge – you or your brain? | Science | The Observer

The brain… it makes you think. Doesn't it? Are we governed by unconscious processes? Neuroscience believes so – but isn't the human condition more complicated than that? Two experts offer different views. (From today's Observer) Make up your own mind. Unless, of course, with you, that's an unconscious process. Read more →