“Knowledge does not equal understanding”
15Thursday 28 May, 2015 by Uncle Spike
“Knowledge does not equal understanding”
For those who reckon education is the answer, think again. Now that’s a very brave statement for me to make considering my wider family, believe me – most are, or were, educators at some level. But this superb video explores how the mind is a complex, yet predictable beast, that can be trained to do almost anything, given time. And it’s all about riding a damned bicycle!
I am a great believer in education, BUT a mix of solid formal classroom and tons of life education. However, no matter how well educated you are, how many advanced degrees one has or how much one has traveled, the brain knows better. I’m just an amatuer observer with a keen interest in neurology and life experience…
Take a few minutes and watch the video – remarkable stuff 🙂
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Uncle Spike's Adventures 
I did something for fun. Wanted to know in terms of percent how much longer it took an adult to learn riding the backwards bike. Based on the below can we project the time to unlearn something?
Age Weeks of life Time to learn in weeks % of life to relearn
35 1820 312 17%
6 312 2 1%
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This was really fascinating. I guess I hadn’t thought about how many processes go on when you ride a bicycle that have to all come together at the same time to make it work. As a teacher, I’m constantly amazed at the different learning abilities of children – some individuals work on a “Tell me once and I get it” basis, others need so much repetition and over learning to make a connection. The biology of learning is clearly a hugely complicated process.
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Indeed it is. Our kid is bi-and-a-bit lingual, and it fascinates me how he swaps around languages with people in the room, holds two conversations at the same time, and even plays and dreams in multiple languages
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Having had a pretty severe traumatic brain injury sixteen weeks ago, have been able to observe up close and personal the workings of my brain as it tries to figure things out. Frustrating and fascinating, both.
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Not so traumatic for me, but had a run in with a rock that saw me make friends with a neurogeezer a few years ago – fascinating it certainly is!
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I love learning things about the brain. This was a cool video. The most interesting part was that he had to relearn how to ride a regular bike. Truth is Truth and apparently knowledge does not always equal understanding – True 🙂
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Agree. like cultural habits that take ages to fade after emigration, likewise, when revisiting the original culture, it’s all so hard once again, lol
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Yes! This concept applies to so many things – not just the bike experiment ☺
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So interesting Uncle Spike!!
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Great post Uncle Spike! I love this experiment with learning and unlearning. –Patti
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Quite something isn’t it?
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For someone who didn’t ride without training wheels until my younger sister did, I won’t modify my bike to do what this guy did! But it was interesting to watch. I thought of the way we learn foreign languages and sort of ‘un-learn’ them if we don’t talk them on a regular basis. And also of course how much easier it is for a child to learn a different language at an early age. Brains are fascinating and it’s a little sad to know that we are using little of its potential. Mostly because of laziness and fear. Going on a bike ride now!
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Language learning is a good comparison.
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That was really interesting. I suppose it is similar to the fact that if you wear glasses that turn everything upside down then your brain eventually turns things the right was up – not that I have tried it. I know someone who would love to try the bike test though. . .
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It is all very bizarre, and fascinating
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