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God has created our brains with both left and right hemispheres.
Left-hemisphere brain functions include reasoning, reading, written
language, number skills and spoken language. Right-hemisphere brain
functions include imagination, intuition, art awareness,
three-dimensional forms and music awareness. Every one of us has two
sides to our brain; we all have reasoning and imagination, number
skills and artistic skills. We usually have a stronger tendency towards
one side or the other, but we all have both sides. So, how should that
effect how we teach and how we learn?
Are Our Brains Lopsided?! In
America today, our worship of the left hemisphere is so complete that
when we graduate from high school, the left hemispheres of our brains
actually weigh slightly more than the right hemispheres! The primary
focus of most elementary, middle school and high school education is
reading, writing and math and every time there is a budget cut at a
school, it seems the first things to go are the classes related to the
right side of the brain, music, art, etc.
Train the mind, the whole mind: Education
should seek to go beyond simply training the left hemisphere. We should
seek to offer training that involves both left- hemisphere and
right-hemisphere brain functions. In Christian education, both private
Christian grade schools and Christian colleges, this is especially
true. God gave us both sides of our brain for a reason. He blessed us
with the ability to reason and imagine, do math and create art, write
literature and make music. It's important that we engage all these
aspects or our mental acuity when we learn. This way our brains are
fully developed and we utilize both the logical and creative sides of
our brains.
Teach as Christ Taught: Additionally, we
should seek to train our students to present both hemispheres of their
brains to God to fill and flow through and guide. For example, "Without
a parable, Jesus taught them not" (Matt. 13:34). Parables are picture
stories. They require imagination. They utilize the right side of the
brain. Christ's teachings also engage the left side of the brain with
reasoning and, today, we learn of Christ's teaching through reading (a
left hemisphere activity) the Word. The most powerful teaching comes
from following the educational methodology of the world's most powerful
Teacher, Jesus Christ, and learning to combine both right and left
hemispheres with the anointing and flow of the Holy Spirit. That is
what we should be committed to training students to do.
Mark Virkler is with Christian Leadership University. CLU is an Online Bible College offering Christian Education which includes listening to God's voice and offers certificates, undergrad, Masters, and Doctorates in the various Christian colleges of CLU.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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