The brain is a complicated biological processing machine. Weighing about three pounds, it is capable of the most amazing things – language, emotions, dreams, and plans. Our understanding of the world around us is filtered through our senses and interpreted by our brains. And although each human brain is similarly organized, there are often major differences in the way each individual brain uses information to solve problems.
Knowing how one’s brain works helps one to learn more efficiently, understand personal strengths and weaknesses, and to develop career paths. Fortunately, there are assessment techniques that provide a better understanding of the unique characteristics that comprise individual learning styles. The use of psychological and educational testing allows the trained practitioner to assist the client in understanding his/her learning style and to provide the client with recommendations for educational and occupational decision making.
Intelligence testing is one of the assessment techniques that provides information about the individual’s problem solving skills. Unlike older intelligence tests, the newer tests give the user information about verbal problem solving, memory, speed of psychological processing, and spatial skills. The addition of other tests such as measures of visual perception, auditory perception, and motor skills provide valuable insight into the workings of our senses. Tests of achievement provide information about learned skills such as reading, writing, and mathematics.
Still other tests allow one to measure skills such as the ability to focus, sustain attention, and ignore distractions. These skills are part of a broader area known as executive functioning. Among other things, executive functions allow us to plan, organize, set goals, access memory, and control emotions. An understanding of executive functioning is a critical to the understanding of how one learns.
The brain is also the source of our temperament and personality. Personality and social/emotional assessment allows one to better understand the intangible factors that influence our daily choices, our motivation, likes and dislikes, and self confidence. Frequently, personality and temperament issues underpin one’s academic success or failure. An understanding of why we learn is as important as how we learn.
Just like fingerprints, the individual brain is one of a kind. Physically so similar, and yet, each does its work in a way that is unique to the individual. Understanding its strengths and weaknesses, its patterns of learning, allows one to use it more efficiently.
For information regarding testing, please call Ramona Hall at 661-222-7332.