| Description |
Reuven Feuerstein, an Israeli cognitive psychologist and teacher, generated his theories working with child survivors of the Holocaust and other youth from North Africa, through one of Israel's youth groups. When tested, these children, some literally snatched from the fire, others orphans who had spent a good portion of their lives in concentration camps or on the streets, showed extremely low-levels of intelligence. Feuerstein and his colleagues tested these "retarded" children using a different method and discovered they had the potential to learn despite their inability to think. So Feuerstein used exercises that taught children basic thinking functions helping them; to learn the fundamentals of learning. The results were children who went on to lead normal lives as active citizens in Israel's new nation. Feuerstein continued to work with mentally retarded youth in Israel, proving that disabled children (or any individual) can learn strategies for thinking efficiently. Feuerstein formed theories of how individuals learn, as well as methods of assessing an individual's potential to learn, and exercises to teach individual's how to think. Feuerstein's methods have been applied with success in many areas, from the gifted in New York to middle schools in Massachusetts, to prisons in Canada, and to businesses in Europe. Feuerstein's work is not just cultural and sociological theory, it is a solution that through changing individuals actually has significant potential to change society. |
