Left Brain versus Right Brain learning
As we’ve discussed in a previous article, the brain is divided into quadrants within the left brain and right brain. What does it really mean when someone is left or right brain? How does it impact the way we communicate with each other and how does it impact the way we learn? The left brain is about logic, analysis, thinking and reading which is an advantage when going to school since the education system teaches primarily to the left brain. This becomes a disadvantage for those that are right brain since its focus is around images, patterns, perceptions, feelings and emotions. It’s more difficult for a “right brainer” to learn in a left brain system, but it’s easier for a “left brainer” to learn from a right brain method.
The left brain person learns from traditional reading and writing, memorizing and then testing. The right brain person learns through hands on example, visual and activities. An excellent example of the two types of learning can be seen in the movie “Dead Poets Society” with Robin Williams. The movie shows the traditional learning in both the math and Latin class in a prep school in Vermont. When the students enter the poetry class taught by Keating (Robin Williams) they enter the world of teaching to both the left and right brain. Instead of just reading from the text book, Keating has the students jumping up on his desk and expressing themselves. He also asks the class to write a poem. This is right brain learning.
When it comes to communicating with people we have a great advantage if we know what their dominate side of the brain is. If it’s the left we should realize that staying focused on the information is critical and the small talk and relationship building is not as important. If it’s the right brain, we need to focus more on the visual and what something means and how they can use it. This is also where small talk and relationships matter. When you get a chance, rent Dead Poets Society to “see” what I mean!