Revisiting nonsense

I have covered many nonsense educational techniques and therapies since starting Occam's Donkey almost two years ago. I have not really been doing the recommended activities to increase the blog's popularity and I do not typically get more than 50 hits per day. It has nevertheless been gratifying to find that Google searches on the names of some of the techniques I have been writing about, often find Occam's Donkey on the first page of results. At least some people are getting the message that pseudoscience and quackery are rife in education and its allied disciplines. Caveat emptor.

Here are some of the ideas, techniques and products I've covered. To see posts related to each idea, just type the italics printed words in the search box at the top of the blog home page.

The mind myths underlying many fads and scams

Brain Gym

Mind Moves

Brain profiling and genetic brain profiling

Left brain right brain

BioStrath for ADHD

Betakit Study System

Primitive reflexes

Quantum physics

Quantum Xrroid Consciousness Interface, or SCIO/QXCI

Human Pin Code

Learning styles

Multiple intelligences

Motivational speakers

Those are some of the ideas and techniques I have concerns about. A valid question would be whether there is anything I support? Well, many of the techniques under discussion are promoted as silver bullets that will solve all educational problems. There are no silver bullets in this field. I believe that not all problems can be solved. Those that can be solved are normally solved through hard work directly on the problem, a back to basics approach.

Science based (evidence based or evidence supported) solutions are the best route to go. While there have been recent scandals in the Big Pharma, medical interventions for conditions such as ADHD are still the best. So called "natural products" for conditions such as ADHD are typically ineffective and a waste of money. The most effective "treatment" for ADHD is a combination of medication (typically stimulant) and behaviour modification.