--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even though we don't know squat about how…" description: "\"Even though we don't know squat about how the brain works, the little we do know suggests that if you wanted to design a learning environment that was ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/john-medina-7046_america_even-though-we-don-t-know-squat-about-ho_427332.jpg" --- # Even though we don't know squat about how the brain works… ![“Even though we don't know squat about how the brain works, the little we do know suggests that if you wanted to design a learning environment that was directly opposed to what the brain was naturally good at doing, you would design the education system we currently have, not only in America, but…” quote by John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/john-medina-7046_america_even-though-we-don-t-know-squat-about-ho_427332.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/john-medina-7046_america_even-though-we-don-t-know-squat-about-ho_427332.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/john-medina-7046_america_even-though-we-don-t-know-squat-about-ho_427332.jpg) > “Even though we don't know squat about how the brain works, the little we do know suggests that if you wanted to design a learning environment that was directly opposed to what the brain was naturally good at doing, you would design the education system we currently have, not only in America, but all over the world!” [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that current education systems clash with the brain's natural learning tendencies, implying they are poorly designed for effective learning. **In simple terms:** Schools work against how brains naturally learn. Key Takeaway Rethink teaching to match brain functions. Themes education neuroscience learning system design Mood critical concerned Type analytical provocative When to use this quote - classroom design - curriculum development - teacher training - policy reform Key Concepts cognitive psychology neuroeducation misalignment Questions to Reflect On - How can curricula be redesigned to align with brain science? - What obstacles prevent schools from adopting neuro‑friendly methods? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched systems is politically and culturally difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Brain Naturally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-naturally-3774380/) [Brain Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-works/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Doing you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-you/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-system/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Learning environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-environment/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Only in america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only-in-america/) [Opposed Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposed-brain-1214084/) [Squat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/squat/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [If you wanted to create an education environment that was directly opposed to what the brain was good at doing, you probably would design…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/if-you-wanted-to-create-an-education-environment-that-was-directly/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [If you wanted to create an education environment that was directly opposed to what the brain was good at doing, you would probably design…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/if-you-wanted-to-create-an-education-environment-that-was-directly-2/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [The brain cannot multitask. 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Only in America is scientific analysis seen as conspiracy theory and government lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/for-reporting-a-scientific-finding-i-was-called-a-conspiracy-theorist/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [It's only in America where there seems to be this sort of systematic denial of the reality of global warming at the governmental level,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/it-s-only-in-america-where-there-seems-to-be-this-sort-of-systematic/) [William J. 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Only in America can a Don King happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/only-in-america-can-a-barack-obama-happen-only-in-america-can-a-don/) [Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/) > [You've got to take responsibility for the hell that you've been giving to our people not only in America, but in Haiti and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/you-ve-got-to-take-responsibility-for-the-hell-that-you-ve-been/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [Only in America, where someone like me could have the opportunity to seek the highest office the world has to offer. Not only can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/only-in-america-where-someone-like-me-could-have-the-opportunity-to/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [Only In America can a renowned and devoted terrorism supporter like Peter King be the arbiter of national security and treason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/only-in-america-can-a-renowned-and-devoted-terrorism-supporter-like/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) ## More by John Medina > [Don't start with the details. Start with the key ideas, and in a hierarchical fashion, form the details around these larger notions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/don-t-start-with-the-details-start-with-the-key-ideas-and-in-a/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [“The more handles one creates at the moment of learning, the more likely the information is to be assessed at a later date. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/the-more-handles-one-creates-at-the-moment-of-learning-the-more/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [If you wanted to create an education environment that was directly opposed to what the brain was good at doing, you probably would design…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/if-you-wanted-to-create-an-education-environment-that-was-directly/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [“Every time I lectured to a group of parents-to-be about baby brain development,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/every-time-i-lectured-to-a-group-of-parents-to-be-about-baby-brain/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [We must do a better job of encouraging lifelong curiosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/we-must-do-a-better-job-of-encouraging-lifelong-curiosity/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [“reasoning is a uniquely human talent. 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While”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/emotionally-arousing-events-tend-to-be-better-remembered-than-neutral/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [“attention Brain Rule #6 We don’t pay attention to boring things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/attention-brain-rule-6-we-don-t-pay-attention-to-boring-things/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [Most brain scientists have not taught 4th grade, and don't know very much about the classroom, even though they might study learning in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/most-brain-scientists-have-not-taught-4th-grade-and-don-t-know-very/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [“The more parents talk to their children, even in the earliest moments of life, the better their kids’ linguistic abilities become”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/the-more-parents-talk-to-their-children-even-in-the-earliest-moments/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [“More research has since confirmed and extended these simple findings. In addition to satisfying relationships, other behaviors that predict happiness include:        •    a steady dose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/more-research-has-since-confirmed-and-extended-these-simple-findings/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [What you do and learn in life physically changes what your brain looks like—it literally rewires it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/what-you-do-and-learn-in-life-physically-changes-what-your-brain/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [Brain scientists and education scientists don't get together very often, and we end up living in our own little silos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/brain-scientists-and-education-scientists-don-t-get-together-very/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [There are nature and nurture components to virtually every behavior a human experiences. The research effort lies only in finding the relevant percentages, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/there-are-nature-and-nurture-components-to-virtually-every-behavior-a/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) [Explore all 93 John Medina quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? 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