Recent research on the brain has increased our understanding of learning and, therefore, expanded our knowledge of what makes for good instruction. One significant finding is that the brain cannot effectively retain lots of unconnected facts.
Our brains are constantly seeking patterns and connections. By bunching facts into categories or organizing them around concepts, the brain can make its own sense out of information and begin to understand it. Therefore, to help students see connections and make sense of the curriculum, it should be organized around concepts and principles.
Investigate examples of differentiating instruction.
Explore how the use of concepts and essential understandings plays a vital role in differentiating instruction.
Consider how to "equalize" opportunities for each learner, giving him/her an appropriate level of challenge while learning the same concept and essential understandings.
It Begins with Good Instruction
Effective differentiation is based on the foundation of good instructional principles. Put another way, without good instruction there won't be effective differentiation. Recent research on the brain has increased our understanding of learning and, therefore, expanded our knowledge of what makes for good instruction. One significant finding is that the brain cannot effectively retain lots of unconnected facts.
We know from brain research that students need to see patterns and connections. And if they have no way to make sense of this massive amount of information that's coming at them, they tend to get confused. It just becomes traipsing over trivia.
Our brains are constantly seeking patterns and connections. By bunching facts into categories or organizing them around concepts, the brain can make its own sense out of information and begin to understand it. Therefore, to help students see connections and make sense of the curriculum, it should be organized around concepts and principles.
When we teach by the key concepts and principles, it helps students develop frameworks of meaning.
The importance of using concepts and principles to frame learning is also based on the work of Hilda Taba who focused on how knowledge is structured.
Facts are discrete pieces of information that we believe to be true. These facts may typically fall within topics. For example, under the topic of Westward Movement, two facts are that (1) early American settlers migrated to the west and (2) many settlers traveled in wagon trains.
Concepts are ways of organizing or categorizing things that have something in common. For example, the concept of migration is a way of viewing the topic of Westward Movement and organizing facts about the settlers' experiences.
Principles are the ideas and deeper understandings that give meaning to the concepts. They are also referred to as essential understandings, generalizations, or "big ideas." (e.g., "People migrate to meet a variety of needs" or "Migration may lead to enhanced opportunity or greater freedom.")
The use of concepts to frame learning helps students to retain facts. But more important, it serves as a starting point for engaging students at a higher level of thinking and understanding by providing a certain perspective or focus on the topic of study.
The use of concepts and essential understandings plays a vital role in differentiating instruction. Essentially, the concept and principles serve as the common point for all students' learning.
Keep it relative. Keep it simple. Keep to the point.
quote:Originally posted by hsballcoach:
PG,
You put it very well. As I have stated in earlier posts. There is a difference between thought process and reality. Yes, in reality the hips will turn in conjunction with the hands or slightly ahead. In order to get to that point I have found that it is benefitial for the hitter to feel as though they start their swing in this manner in order to stay connected. This is something that works well for my players. But as others have stated before, terminology means very little, it is ones understanding through visual cues and actually doing that makes the difference. I think that if BlueDog and I sat down to talk about the perfect swing, it would probably end up very similar. But, each of us would probably approach it slightly different. As far as understanding reciprocal inhibition, maybe this will help. The patellar reflex is an example of this process. You relax your leg, the doctor taps your knee and the quads fire, immediately, as the hamstrings stretch, a process called reciprocal innervation occurs which innervates the hamstrings from contracting. If you tense your leg and the doctor taps your knee your quads will not fire as rapidly and effectiently and the hamstrings will not be inhibited as well due to the fact the the inhibition is triggered by stretching rather than contracting the muscle. Inhibition in hitting will occur when the muscles that need to contract, do so quickly and the antagonist muscles are instantly inhibited. This does not occur due to tensing the antagonist or agonist groups prior to the rapid contraction that occurs during the swing. I also want to add that I thoroughly appreciate all the productive information that I have read and discussed on this forum. It really makes you think. I have picked up some good terms that I like that may help convey messages to the kids more clearly.
Your example with the doctor does not interact with swinging a bat....
To have enough bat quickness to hit a 90 m.p.h. fastball requires a body load/unload....A very specific and dynamic load/unload of the muscles.....If your muscles are relaxed, you're dead meat.....
To have enough bat quickness to hit a 90 m.p.h. fastball requires a body load/unload....A very specific and dynamic load/unload of the muscles.....If your muscles are relaxed, you're dead meat.....
quote:Originally posted by BlueDog:
The problem with instruction is that too many see what they want to see....
Swinging a bat, flying a plane or learning any subject is best done without unnecessary complication. Clear and concise.
In your zeal to seem omniscient, you missed that point.
Problem is, you don't understand clear and concise....You, too, see what you want to see.....Not, what is really there....
Keep it real simple
See ball.........Hit ball
See ball.........Hit ball
Blue Dog
You dont understand --ANSWER-- you never give oone with a question being involved or a condescending remark
Why dont you try to stop knocking everyone who tries to ofer an opinion--that is what this site is all about--opinions and thoughts from baseball people not posts knocking everyone who offers an opinion-- you know BD you might learn something by listening
You dont understand --ANSWER-- you never give oone with a question being involved or a condescending remark
Why dont you try to stop knocking everyone who tries to ofer an opinion--that is what this site is all about--opinions and thoughts from baseball people not posts knocking everyone who offers an opinion-- you know BD you might learn something by listening
When a player "vertically stacks" at setup he takes virtually all tension out. When he goes to load, he does put tension in the stance prior to hitting. Even if the hitter sets up without vertically stacking, but with any bend in the knees, there has to be tension. As far as the upper body, the hands are generally loose until the bat is initiated.
Have you ever seen a boxer that is totally tense and tight. He cannot fire the punches in. He starts loose, weave bob talk weave get things in motion then POW! Try to throw a punch totally tense to start. However, try to throw a punch without tensing at all. Cannot happen. I think you guys are all correct.
However, BlueDog is criptically right. You are tense at load, just like a boxer. However, as a hitter you start loose.
I heard Cruk say that he went to load when the pitcher went to load. " I showed him my hip pocket, when he showed me his." No he did not. He went to load when the pitcher landed. And I'm sorry the backside rotation does not lead the swing, I CAN prove that. The hands lead the swing or it is simultaneous, no exceptions.
Have you ever seen a boxer that is totally tense and tight. He cannot fire the punches in. He starts loose, weave bob talk weave get things in motion then POW! Try to throw a punch totally tense to start. However, try to throw a punch without tensing at all. Cannot happen. I think you guys are all correct.
However, BlueDog is criptically right. You are tense at load, just like a boxer. However, as a hitter you start loose.
I heard Cruk say that he went to load when the pitcher went to load. " I showed him my hip pocket, when he showed me his." No he did not. He went to load when the pitcher landed. And I'm sorry the backside rotation does not lead the swing, I CAN prove that. The hands lead the swing or it is simultaneous, no exceptions.
OK baseballpapa, prove it.
At land, the player's hips turn. If that lead the swing they would NEVER hold up on a pitch. The hip turn creates tension that increases bat speed. It does precede the hands. However, the hands have to lead the swing or not swing. The ball call, or no swing occurs even with the early hip rotation.
Frank Robinson
I beg to differ. Check this clip of Frank Robinson and watch how much his hips rotate before the hands start.
I beg to differ. Check this clip of Frank Robinson and watch how much his hips rotate before the hands start.
I went on MLB and looked at Bonds, Pujols, and others. Everyone of them have their hips move before the hands like you describe. I am in agreement. However, how does a hitter NOT swing. The hands have to be separate at least to the degree a hitter can hold up. His hips rotate whether he swings or not (to that degree).
I like the clip. I need a lesson on collecting them. How does everyone get them?
Robinson started with really low hands compared to most hitters. Why start higher versus low? I always heard that a hitter has a tendancy of pulling front shoulder early if the hands are too low and that gravity should help feed the bathead. Is that all wrong?
I like the clip. I need a lesson on collecting them. How does everyone get them?
Robinson started with really low hands compared to most hitters. Why start higher versus low? I always heard that a hitter has a tendancy of pulling front shoulder early if the hands are too low and that gravity should help feed the bathead. Is that all wrong?
quote:and that gravity should help feed the bathead. Is that all wrong?
Yes, it's wrong, if your goal is a high level swing........
MLB hitters rotate the hips into foot plant....The hips are rotating before the front foot comes down.....
The brain makes the decision to swing, or not to swing....If the decision is not to swing, the shoulders don't rotate.....The hands and arms connect to the shoulders and follow their lead.....
It's about hips and shoulders, not arms and hands....
The brain makes the decision to swing, or not to swing....If the decision is not to swing, the shoulders don't rotate.....The hands and arms connect to the shoulders and follow their lead.....
It's about hips and shoulders, not arms and hands....
quote:Originally posted by BlueDog:
MLB hitters rotate the hips into foot plant....The hips are rotating before the front foot comes down.....
The brain makes the decision to swing, or not to swing....If the decision is not to swing, the shoulders don't rotate.....The hands and arms connect to the shoulders and follow their lead.....
It's about hips and shoulders, not arms and hands....
It's about the whole body,including the hips, shoulders, hands, arms, legs etc.
bbScout... great pic of Robinson.. you can see (barely) how much his hips have opened before the top half really gets working... (torque)
and to whoever it was saying hands/arms go first... STOP! Hips will always lead the hands in a productive, efficient swing...
that would be like saying a pitcher leads with his hands/arms...
and BBscout-where do you get those clips - keep em coming...
and to whoever it was saying hands/arms go first... STOP! Hips will always lead the hands in a productive, efficient swing...
that would be like saying a pitcher leads with his hands/arms...
and BBscout-where do you get those clips - keep em coming...
I am not sure that anyone has said that the hands are out in front of the hips. Hopefully not. I think what some are saying, myself at least, is that the thought process is to commit to the swing with the hands. The hips will be out in front slightly, but this will prevent the hips from flying and dragging the bat through the zone. This is a cue that has always worked for my kids, it is always accompanied with a visual and practice. I tell my kids to set early, load, and start with their hands. This what is actually happening? No. But it helps them stay connected and use the whole body in perfect timing.
If you teach kids how to move their middle, you won't have to tell them things that ain't really happening.... 
