CEA gives an overview of metacognitive strategies that is so valuable to help struggling children learn. The Building Blocks are so clearly formulated that they can be directly used in the classroom and other work with children. It is a big advantage that CEA was developed with the purpose of being integrated in activities already going on with the child, which makes it very relevant and easily accessible to both parents and professionals

What is CEA?

Approach—Not Program
CEA is an approach rather than a program. CEA does not replace programs—it provides
comprehensive knowledge and skills for helping students become more effective independent and
interdependent learners.

 

Situated—Not Separate Curriculum
CEA is designed to be situated within content rather than taught as a separate curriculum. It
is based on the belief that learning is best accomplished when connected to personal experience
rather than through the presentation of abstract ideas. CEA is not designed to be taught as
“thinking skills class time.” It is embedded within the content, the subject matter or other specific
situations.

 

Shared Vocabulary of Metastrategic Knowledge
CEA provides a shared vocabulary of metastrategic knowledge for everyone seeking to assist
marginalized learners—including students and educators as well as family members who may be
marginalized as well. CEA includes Building Blocks of Thinking (12 cognitive learning processes)
and Tools of Learning (4 processes for understanding feelings and 4 for motivating behavior).

 

Personal Learning Strategies—Not Expert
While most of cognitive education focuses on teaching expert strategies, CEA focuses on teaching
students how to develop and adapt personal learning strategies. Expert strategies related to one
or more BBs and Ts are discussed but then students are encouraged to develop their own and then
refine until effective. CEA’s perspective is that students need to learn to develop and adapt
personal strategies to meet all kinds of challenges and adapted to very specific situations.

 

CEA Building Blocks Overview

CEA Building Blocks on Thinking and Tools for Learning

The Building Blocks on Thinking and Tools of Learning are based on metastrategic knowledge and derived from theory, research, and classroom application. They are related to the cognitive deficiencies described by Feuerstein in his theory of mediated learning experience. The Building Blocks are formulated in a way that makes them easy to understand and communicate with children in the classroom. They are divided into 5 categories:

 

Building Blocks for Approaching the Learning Experience

Exploration - the ability to search systematically for information needed in the learning
experience

 Planning - the ability to prepare and use an organized approach in the learning
experience

 Expression - the ability to communicate thoughts and actions carefully in the learning
experience

 

Building Blocks for Making Meaning

Working Memory - the ability to use memory processes effectively

Making Comparisons - the ability to discover similarities and differences automatically among some
parts of the learning experience

Getting the Main Idea - the ability to identify the basic thought that holds related ideas together

Thought Integration - the ability to combine pieces of information into complete thoughts and hold
onto them while needed

Connecting Events - the ability to find relationships among past, present, and future learning
experiences automatically

 

Building Blocks for Confirming

Precision + Accuracy - the ability to know there is a need to understand words and concepts and
use them correctly and to seek information automatically when the need
arises

Space + Time Concepts - the ability to understand and use information about space and time that is
important in almost all learning

Selective Attention - the ability to choose between relevant and irrelevant information and to
focus on the information needed in the learning experience

Problem Identification - the ability to experience a sense of imbalance automatically and define the
cause when something interferes with successful learning

 

Tools of Learning for Understanding Feelings

Inner Meaning - the ability to seek deep, personal value in learning experiences that
energizes thinking and behavior and leads to greater commitment and
success

Feeling of Challenge - the ability to energize learning in new and complex experiences by focusing
on the learning process rather than fear and anxiety about a possible
unsuccessful product

Awareness of Self Change - the ability to recognize and understand feelings related to personal growth
and to learn to expect and welcome change and development

Feeling of Competence - the ability to energize feelings, thoughts, and behaviors by developing beliefs
about being capable of learning and doing something effectively

 

Tools of Learning for Motivating Behavior

Self-Regulation - the ability to reflect on thoughts and actions as they occur to energize,
sustain, and direct behavior toward successful learning and doing

Goal Orientation - the ability to take purposeful action in consistently setting, seeking, and
reaching objectives

Self-Development - the ability to appreciate special qualities in everyone and to enhance
personal potential

Sharing Behavior - the ability to energize life and learning for everyone by sharing thoughts and
actions through effective interdependent learning skills

English menu

Cognitive Enrichment Advantage workshop in Denmark

3rd-6th of November 2020

SIGN UP ONLINE FOR THE COURSE HERE

BackgroundCEA materials

We are proud to offer this course in the Cognitive Enrichment Advantage (CEA)-approach to learning, cognitive development and training with ph.d. Katherine Greenberg, who is the founder of this and other cognitive programs. CEA builds on the foundation of mediated learning and constitutes a practical approach than can be directly integrated in the classroom.

Target group

Cognitive Enrichment Advantage is aimed at the school context but is also relevant to anyone who want to develop children and adolescents cognitive functioning.

What will be your outcome from the workshop

CEA supports teachers in enhancing their personal understanding of Mediated Learning Experience principles. It provides an approach—rather than a program—that teachers can adapt to better address the lived experience of every student regardless of age or level of functioning. Through participation in this workshop, teachers will be able to:

  • Reflect on the science of mediated learning principles as interwoven in the always personal art of what to say and do as a teacher.
  • Develop a shared vocabulary of learning strategies to address cognitive, emotional, and motivational needs.
  • Explore ways to facilitate students’ personal adaptation of learning strategies to meet specific needs in a given situation, including through use of the ProblemUp! card game.
  • Identify ways to collaborate with family members in supporting students’ learning needs.
  • Share ways to further development of an open classroom atmosphere that offers students a relationship-driven community of practice and avoids diminishing the learning opportunity of a struggling learner.

 

The foundation for CEA

CEA draws from diverse fields of study. It explores what it means to meet students within Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development; ● what it means to use Feuerstein’s parameters of mediated learning: intentionality, reciprocity, meaning and transcendence; ● how to use techniques for helping students turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones; ● how to position oneself as a facilitator who is aware of the role perception plays in learning; and ● how to express a phenomenological attitude that is the heart of teaching and learning.

 

Practical information
Dates
3rd-6th of November 2020

Detailed schedule will be sent to participants prior to course together with suggested pre-course reading materials.

Course venuemap of denmark

The course will be held in the central part of Odense in a short walking distance from the central station. Adress: Mødecenter (Meeting center) Odense, Buchwaldsgade 48, 5000 Odense C, Denmark.

Course format

The course is a non-residential course (accommodation not included). It is conducted as a combination of presentation, developing a shared vocabulary for CEA strategies through playful activities, opportunity to collaboratively develop lessons with other participants, group and individual reflection on one’s own teaching, individual planning to integrate CEA into one’s teaching. Course participants will be supplied with a couple of useful introductory articles prior to the course.

Course materials

Each course participants will be provided with the Cognitive Enhancement Advantage materials (including Teacher Handbook, Minilessons and Family-School Partnership Handbook).

Course language

The course is an international course and teaching will be in easily understandable English.

Kathy3Course presenter

The course will be delivered by Ph.D. Katherine Greenberg, who Has been an international consultant through many years within the field of mediated learning and dynamic assessment. She is the founder of CEA and served for nine months as a Fulbright Research Scholar at Feuerstein’s Institute in Jerusalem, Israel. She has consulted with educators in the U.S.A., Canada, Europe, and South America. Kathy is Professor Emerita, Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her most recent publication is Greenberg, K.H., Staples, C. & Marone, V. (2019). Mediated learning at play: Developing creative and strategic thinking through a card game. In Tan Oon-Seng, Chua Bee Leng, & Isabella Wong Yuen (Eds.) Advances in Mediated Learning Experience for 21st century education: Competencies, Contexts and Culture.

Course organizer and provider

The course is providJensed and organized by Neuroguide.dk psychologist Jens Wilbrandt. Jens Wilbrandt has many years of experience in the special education field and is qualified in both LPAD, DAYC, IE and CAP. He is an exponent of a development-oriented educational psychological approach and has many years of experience as a facilitator, lecturer and course teacher in the neuropsychological, and educational psychological field. In addition to carrying out a wide range of continued professional development tasks, he works with dynamic assessment, cognitive training and counseling in relation to children and adolescents with extensive learning and development issues, both in relation to school, home and home care.

Price
Course price for international participants is 9´500 DKK (Danish currency). For danish participants, there will be added 25 % local VAT. The price includes a set of the Cognitive Enhancement Advantage materials (including Teacher Handbook, Minilessons and Family-School Partnership Handbook).

Registration and further information

You can sign up for the course online through this link: https://neuroguide.nemtilmeld.dk/7/ or you can write an email to course organizer: Neuroguide.dk, psychologist Jens Wilbrandt, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. You will then get an invoice with bank transfer information. Or you can call phone +45 22 32 44 01 if you want to ask or discuss anything.