The BrainThink Learning system promoted in this book helps parents and teachers boost students’ learning by embracing creative play over standardized educational methods, encouraging true comprehension over memorization.
BrainThink Learning proposes that intelligence is dependent more on how a child’s brain is stimulated to develop than genetic makeup. By utilizing the power of deliberate, educational play, parents and educators can develop and strengthen the child’s brain in five main areas: attention, visualization, logical reasoning, memory, and processing speed—all of which help children “enhance their learning and…realise their potential.”
The BrainThink Learning team, comprised of Karen Kwan, Lynn Lim and Dr. Tay Choo Chuan, presents compelling research and arguments for eschewing traditional educational methods, favoring creative learning over memorizing facts. They provide example activities that foster true mastery of concepts. For example, the ending chapters introduce Vedic Math, which essentially teaches ancient tricks for performing mental math calculations that strengthen students’ problem-solving skills, which will benefit all areas of life. The “tricks” are clearly explained and offer a peek at how alternative methods may produce extraordinary results.
The book’s design is lively, with a helpful summary beginning each chapter, an answer key in the back, and plenty of images and visual aids to help explain concepts.
However, the abundance of information never amounts to a clear-cut, comprehensive plan of action that readers can immediately implement. The book tends to read like an infomercial for a product you don’t yet have in your hands. For example, the needed “5 Brain Abilities Assessment,” which gauges a student’s strengths and weaknesses, is only available online and requires proof of purchase of MathBrain to obtain. It’s unclear what the step after that should be or where that guidance can be found.
Readers will certainly gain an understanding of new ideas for improving and supplementing their student’s education, but overall, there seems to be more to the MathBrain program than what is found here.
Also available in hardcover and ebook.
