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COGNITIVE MEDIATION:
FEUERSTEIN, UPBRAINING, METAPEDAGOGY, KUMON, ASD READING, ALPHAS, KP MATHS

General overview

The Feuerstein method, created by Professor Reuven Feuerstein, PhD in developmental psychology at La Sorbonne, aims to help children, youth and adults who have delays or cognitive disabilities. The Feuerstein method aims to teach individuals to learn by themselves. 

To this end, this method focuses on metapedagogy, which aims to understand the processes in our brains that allow us to acquire new knowledge. These processes are based on our cognitive functions, the skills of our brain, which are shared by all humans, but are more or less developed by individuals. 

The Feuerstein method therefore aims to strengthen these cognitive functions, and for this to happen, there must be human mediation. The mediator is the person who stands between the child and the world, who interprets for the child his or her experiences, who reorders, organizes, structures the information to which the child is exposed. 

 

UpBraining is a cognitive mediation approach based on the Feuerstein method and developed by Christine MAYER founded the UpBraining Institute, to support children and train parents in "metapedagogy" to learn how to learn to learn.

The following four methods are specialized methods for academic learning, including reading, writing and math...

 

Kumon is an alternative and innovative pedagogy of Japanese origin that promotes the learning of linguistic and mathematical skills through a system where the child learns independently with textbooks designed by Kumon.

Kumon is the world's leading tutoring course with 26,000 centres in 50 countries. In France, the first Kumon centre opened in Boulogne-Billancourt in 2017. The Kumon method is complementary to the school, and is not intended to replace it.

 

ASD Reading, is a reading and writing education program for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This program was developed by Dr. Marion Blank, a world-renowned language expert who served as co-director of the developmental neuropsychiatry program at Columbia University. Online training exists for parents and teachers, but is only available in English.

 

Les Alphas is a phonic reading method, designed for French-speaking children, created in 2000 by Claude Huguenin and Olivier Dubois of Nilac. It is a highly developed program around many products and a whole story around two planets, a method that makes learning to read more interesting for the child. They also offer training for GS, CP, specialised class or speech therapists.

 

KP Maths offers a product and service around this product: the "ten-frame tile" of tiles and rectangles that help to understand fractions in a concrete way. This product is then similar to Montessori sensory equipment. The manuals that accompany this product are only available in English, and the KP Maths team only works in classes in the United States.

Main objectives of the method
  • The Feuerstein method aims to make people with cognitive disorders, whether mild or severe, more autonomous, more efficient, more confident, more active, better in their heads and in society....

  • Kumon: know the basic concepts of mathematics and language. Ideally, it is about developing the child's full potential by increasing his or her self-esteem.

  • ASD Reading wants to enable children with autism to learn to read and write.

  • Les Alphas wants to teach all children to read and write better, so not only dyslexic children.

  • KP Maths teach children the basics of mathematics with their product (photo above).

Specificities of the method

Feuerstein

The Feuerstein method is based on Feuerstein's theory of structural cognitive modifiability (SCM). The theory suggests that to create systemic change, the individual requires intervention through human mediation; a fundamental change in the way the learner learns to process and interact with information in all aspects of his life. This process is called the Media Learning Experience (MLE) and is implemented through two applied learning systems: the Learning Propensity Assessment Scheme (LPAD) and Instrumental Enrichment (IEF). Together, these systems seek to assess, intervene and develop the learner's skills.

FIE is a cognitive intervention program. Made up of specially designed instruments, the FIE is a series of pencil and paper tasks that can be used in class, in groups or individually. Each series focuses on a different cognitive competence, creating systematic, persistent and structured conditions to engage learners in problem solving by developing their ability to understand and develop information.

 

Example of an exercise sheet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kumon focuses on self-learning and self-discipline. The progression is done "step by step", but with a very low increment of difficulty, which allows to motivate the child who is in a logic of success, to allow a great repetition until the skills are acquired. 

 

ASD Reading the program works as an online subscription of $20/month or $200/year and helps children with autism regardless of their language level. Requires attendance 4 to 5 times a week for 20 to 30 minutes to walk well. Available only in English.

 

Les Alphas: For children in high school or kindergarten. The method is special because it has built a whole universe around the history of the "alphas", the inhabitants of a planet.

KP Maths: The product is intended to be implemented in primary school classes, but the KP Maths team's interventions are only in the United States. 

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Who is this method for ?

The Feuerstein method is intended for any child or adult with academic difficulties, developmental delays, dyslexia, sensory, emotional, behavioural and personality disorders (Autistic Behaviours,...), hyperactivity, attention disorders, epilepsy, psychomotor disabilities (Cerebral Palsy), Trisomy 21...

 

The other methods are designed for children with learning disabilities who want to improve their reading and math skills.

What parents say about it

Here are a large number of testimonies from the UpBraining program in France: https://www.upbraining.net/temoignages/

 

 

 

 

Here you will find comments from parents and teachers about Les Alphas:

https://forum.celinealvarez.org/t/la-methode-des-alphas/1378

 

ASD Reading, here is what parents and teachers say

https://www.asdreading.com/testimonials

 

What parents say about Kumon

http://forum.magicmaman.com/autourdumonde/Angleterre/connait-cours-kumon-sujet-539-1.htm

Scientific references

Here is a study showing that the Feuerstein method improves cognitive function in children with mental disabilities. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Cognitive-modifiability-of-children-with-a-study-Kozulin-Lebeer/23ede5c0f80f657b14d51cbe9a2bc1044f42566a

To know more about the topic

Feuerstein method

Podcast on the Feuerstein method:

http://www.aide-moi-a-apprendre.fr/photo/comprendre-la-methode-feuerstein/

 

Explanation of the Feuerstein method

http://www.aide-moi-a-apprendre.fr/l-institut-feuerstein/la-methode-feuerstein/

 

Online UpBraining training with parents' opinions at the bottom:

https://formations.upbraining.net/course/upbraining-initial/comment-page-2/

 

Interview with Christine Mayer, creator of the UpBraining Institute

https://www.upbraining.net/upbraining/principe-de-la-methode/

 

On metapedagogy

https://www.upbraining.net/formations-metapedagogue/

 

UpBraining offers training for parents from 6 to 15 days in total in two or three sessions of 3 to 5 days. https://www.upbraining.net/formations/calendrier-des-formations/

 

UpBraining offers online and onsite training with several forums that lasts 6 months for a price of €290. https://formations.upbraining.net/course/upbraining-initial/comment-page-2/

 

The association Aide moi à apprendre à Paris aims to promote the method 

 

Feuerstein with doctors, institutions and parents.

http://www.aide-moi-a-apprendre.fr/

 

Association Owl we learn

https://www.chouetteonapprend.org/

Kumon:

Kumon France website

https://www.kumon.fr/

https://www.facebook.com/KUMONBoulogne/

Two articles explaining the Kumon method:

https://www.ecolealternative.com/pedagogie-alternative-la-methode-kumon-un-phenomene-mondial/

https://etreparents.com/la-methode-kumon-un-systeme-dapprentissage-autonome/

Kumon notebook: in bookshops or on amazon

KP Mathematics

https://kpmathematics.com/products-services/

ASD Reading

https://www.asdreading.com/

The Alphas:

https://editionsrecrealire.com/902-les-alphas

https://uneautreecolepourmesenfants.wordpress.com/2017/01/08/la-planete-des-alphas-lessentiel-ici/

Any remarks or comments ?

This work is based on a collaborative approach to sharing research and family experience.

If you have any comments, suggestions for modifications or corrections or clarifications to make, please let us know by email at contact@leneurogroupe.org

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