Lester W. Hardwick

Author of Brain Tools

Donna Stephens

Teacher, Integrated Learning Support Unit,
Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

The Brain Tools Program that Constructs Brains. More Invasive than Brain Surgery

Abstract

We are all educators. What do we do to people when we teach? We see changes on the outside. We take notice of changes in their faces, eyes, body size and shape; that is, the external body. But what is really happening?

The essence of education is growing brains·.. What we do as teachers causes chemical, electrical and long term physical changes in the brains of our learners. It can be argued that we are more invasive than brain surgeons. We go in and construct brains. The information pathways that we cause people to use, grow and develop, while those we don't, suicide and degenerate. As a consequence, the nature of our education results in the growth and development of a particular size, shape and functioning brain.

Because of genetics, hormones and cultural impacts the female brain grows and develops to be and function differently from the male brain. So too, because of cultural and environmental differences the Industrial Brain grew to be different from the Agrarian Brain which likewise is different from the Hunter/Gatherer Brain, and all of which will be different from the brain that is required for success in the Information Age; the Information Brain.

The significant difference between the functioning of all the previous brains and the Information Brain, is that with these previous brains success could be achieved by the majority using Reactive Thinking based on learned information and learned behaviour. Whereas, in the Information Age, to achieve success the majority will need a brain that is wired up for Proactive Thinking based on learning information and learning new behaviours. The Locus of Control is conscious rather than unconscious.

Previously we set up systems to impart a body of learnable knowledge and behaviour that would ensure success in a society. To be a learned person was the goal. In the Information Age we must set up learning communities that produce Proactive, lifelong learners. To be a learning person will be the goal.

Regardless of how education is delivered in the future, the core of each organisation will be a basic, integrated, training program that causes the growth of a learning brain, the Information Brain. The Brain Tools program is such a training program. The Brain Tools program trains participants in the thinking skills for lifelong learning and draws on current brain theory.

Bionotes

Lester W. Hardwick- Author of Brain Tools

Lester W. Hardwick is a teacher and educational consultant who has spent the last thirty years exploring how people use their brains to be successful, lifelong learners. During this time he developed the Brain Tools Manual to train people in the basic tools to become such successful lifelong learners. The Brain Tools courses are recognized nationally. In 2000 Lester received a Commonwealth Government 'Australia Day Award' for his contribution to the community through education and in 2001 he received a State Government 'Australia Day Award' in the form of 'The Education Queensland Medal'.

Donna Stephens is currently teaching at the Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE in the Integrated Learning Support Unit. She was a primary school teacher for over 10 years and has worked at a secure juvenile detention center in Townsville before completing her Bachelor of Education. She was fortunate enough to work with Lester Hardwick and has embraced his Brain Tools Program. Since then Donna has used the Brain Tools Program to change students lives as well as her own.

Presentation Type
30 min. Paper

Presentation Equipment and Other Requests
OHT
Data Projector

Speaking Date/Time Restrictions

Country
Australia