At Fountain House we offer Ruven Feuerstein’s highly acclaimed program of thinking skills, Instrumental Enrichment (IE). This program stimulates the learner and teaches them how to learn more effectively.
Thinking as a prerequisite of learning requires that the student gather information clearly, analyses it in relation to previous experience, accurately defines problems, develops alternative problem-solving strategies and draws logical conclusions.
When deficiencies in the thinking process exist, the traditional approach has been to force-feed the student more knowledge. In contrast, Instrumental Enrichment's approach mediates learning by developing the prerequisite thinking process.
At the Centre, we use many IE propositions within numeracy and literacy lessons. Separate IE lessons are also instigated when appropriate.
Instrumental Enrichment is a program designed to enhance cognitive functions necessary for independent thinking. It seeks to sharpen critical thinking by providing students with the concepts, skills, strategies, operations and techniques necessary to function as independent learners; to diagnose and correct deficiencies in thinking skills, and to help students learn how to learn. In addition, the process promotes self-esteem, improves scholastic aptitude and brings about cognitive gains that last well beyond school years.
The general goal is the enhancement of structural cognitive modifiability of the performer in his exposure to sources of stimuli. This takes place through various sub-goals:
- Correction of deficient cognitive functions;
- Acquisition of vocabulary, labels, concepts, operations and relationships relevant to Instrumental Enrichment tasks as well as problem solving in general,
- Production of intrinsic motivation through formation of habits,
- Creation of insight and reflective thinking;
- Creation of task intrinsic motivation;
- Shift from role of passive recipient and reproducer of date to role of active generator
of new information and so heightened self-image.
The materials used in the program are free from specific subject matter, yet are intended to be bridged to academic school subjects and life skills. It may easily be used with a variety of age groups and populations including all who have not reached their potential. It has a wide application to improve cognitive ability.
At the Centre, we use many IE propositions within numeracy and literacy lessons. Separate IE lessons are also instigated when appropriate.
 |
