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Why must cognitive skills be trained, not taught?

By Learning Rx RVA October 19, 2012
Why must cognitive skills be trained, not taught?
Just as you cannot learn to play the piano with 12 weeks of classroom lectures (you will have to actually practice playing), cognitive skills grow stronger with training, not teaching or tutoring. Cognitive skills training must also feature specific methods if it is to be consistently effective.
Studies have shown, and logic confirms, that one-on-one training is by far the best vehicle to deliver these essential training methods. The student gets undivided, individual attention.
Neuroscience research indicates the following are necessary elements of effective cognitive training:
It must be skill-specific and targeted.
…to close specific mental skill gaps
It must be highly intense.
…concentrated repetition builds skills quickly
It must be properly sequenced.
…small challenging steps build upon one another without overwhelming the student
It must be progressively loaded.
…properly increasing both difficulty and complexity makes skills automatic
It must contain immediate, accurate feedback.
…instant, effective reinforcement and correction keeps training focused and intense
In addition, training benefits from being non-academic.
…fun and game-like exercises get beyond student’s frustration and defenses

For more information about Cognitive skills, contact LearningRx at 804-612-9959.