The Learning The Learning Process and the Process and the

BrainBrainErica Schmidt

Dr. Virginia BullockEDUC - 6651C-1

January 19, 2013

““Brain research can facilitate a shift Brain research can facilitate a shift in focus from teaching to learning”in focus from teaching to learning”

(Laureate Education Inc., 2008)(Laureate Education Inc., 2008)

Perspective of Perspective of Learners from the Learners from the

Past and the PresentPast and the Present

The History of The History of LearningLearning

Before the Industrial Revolution, students learned by watching and listening to people they knew- Apprenticeship programs became popular

OverviewOverview

Industrial Revolution brought a shift in learning theories

People followed rituals that had proven effective for some students

Education focused on “reading, writing, arithmetic” with little to no application.

Throughout the 20th Century many Throughout the 20th Century many Theorist and theories began to Theorist and theories began to

emerge and take shapeemerge and take shape

B.F. Skinner-1953

teacher or instructor rewards or punished students for behavior

“The idea is that certain stimuli will produce certain results” (Beers, 2006, p.8)

BehaviorismBehaviorism

How does Behaviorism relate to the brain? “[Behaviorism] discounts the activities of the brain. It does not explain how behavior changes and new learning occurs in the absence of reward and punishment” (Beers, 2006, p.9)

Lev Vygotsky- 1978

A student’s learning depends on his surroundings and his culture.

“Focusing on the child without understanding her culture provides only limited information to assist the child’s intellectual growth” (Beers, 2006, p.9)

Social CognitionSocial Cognition

Developmental Stages Developmental Stages and Cognitive and Cognitive

StructuresStructuresJean Piaget-1970

A child’s cognitive structures depend on the stages of a child’s development.

some experiences reinforce cognitive behavior, while some change it

Social Learning TheorySocial Learning Theory

Albert Bandura- 1977

Learning occurs through observation.

Four conditions must be present for social learning to occur: attention, retention, motor reproduction, motivation.

Current Learning Current Learning TheoriesTheories

There has been a shift in focus from how best a student can learn, to how much a student can learn

Students can learn in a variety of ways

OverviewOverview

Most learners can be classified into one of the following learning styles

Perceivers

concrete- learn from acting or doing

abstract- learn from observing

Processors

active- uses information as soon as they get it

reflective-spend time thinking over the information

Visual learners-learn best when presented with visual representations

Auditory learners- learn best when information is presented orally

Kinesthetic learners-learn best by using their own hands

The BrainThe Brain

Basic Anatomy Basic Anatomy The brain is made of four major lobes

1.Occipital lobe- responsible for vision

2.Temporal lobe- responsible for hearing

3.Frontal lobe- responsible for higher thinking and language development and communication

4.Motor Cortex- controls movement

Synapses- release neurotransmitters that start new electrical impulses

Dendrites- receive information from other cells

Axon- sends messages to other cells

NeuronNeuron

Brain Based Research Brain Based Research FindingsFindings

Learning- making connections between thousands of neurons

Memory- the ability to reactivate a prior make connection

The job of the teacher is to find a way to cement that connection.

Recent research in brain function has made 4 major findings in the connection between the brain and learning. These are as follows:

The human brain is “plastic” and can be changed based on what you do with it.

What impact does this finding have on the teachers role in the classroom?

“Teachers don’t just teach kids, they literally shape their brains” (LEI, 2008)

The entire classroom atmosphere impacts learning

#1 The brain is sculpted through #1 The brain is sculpted through experience (neuroplasticity) experience (neuroplasticity)

#2 The brain seeks meaningful #2 The brain seeks meaningful patternspatterns

If information is not meaningful to a person, they will not remember-the brain was made to forget.

What impact does this finding have on the teachers role in the classroom?

The more methods we use, the better students will remember

Concrete experience is always the best teaching method.

#3 Emotion is a catalyst for learning#3 Emotion is a catalyst for learning

“Two small but powerful structures deep within in each hemisphere called the amygdala regulate our emotional responses. These emotional responses have the ability to either impede or enhance learning” (Wolfe, 2013)

What impact does this finding have on the teachers role in the classroom?

When motivating and captivating a student through emotion, find a level that is appropriate but not so high that learning shuts down

#4 There are two types of memory#4 There are two types of memory

1.Procedural

Unconscious process; routine

Rote rehearsal

“Drill and Kill”

2.Declarative

Episodic; semantic

What you can declare

How can these implications impact How can these implications impact the classroom teacher?the classroom teacher?

Orchestrated immersion: Learning environments are created that immerse students in a learning experience. (Wilson, 2009)

example- When a kindergarten class is studying countries around the world, the teacher may transform the classroom using decorations, toys, music, etc. to immerse students in the new culture.

Relaxed alertness: An effort is made to eliminate fear, while maintaining a highly challenging environment (Wilson, 2009)

Example- Teacher plays soft classical music during a test; Classroom walls are painted light blue; calming scents are used in the classroom

“Children are stretched to maximize their cognitive potentials in teaching environments that are supportive, comfortable, and non-threatening.” (Wilson, 2009)

Active processing: Information is intentionally connected to prior learning. (Wilson, 2009)

Example- Kindergarten teacher teaches skip counting (counting by 2s, 5s, 10s). Third grade teacher pulls from that prior knowledge as she is teaching multiplication.

Our job is not to Our job is not to help kids do well on help kids do well on tests or in school. tests or in school.

Our job is to prepare Our job is to prepare kids do well in life. kids do well in life.

(LEI, 2008)(LEI, 2008)

ResourcesResources

Beers, B. (2006). Learning-driven schools: A practical guide for teachers and principals. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision of Curriculum and Development.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2008). The relationship between teaching and learning. Teacher Leadership in the Classroom. Baltimore, MD: Alexander, P.

Wilson, Leslie O. (2009). Overview of Brain Based Education .ED 790 - Brain Based Education. Retrieved from http://www4.uwsp.edu/education/lwilson/brain/bboverview.htm

Wolfe, Patricia. (2013). Brain Research and Education: Fact of Fad? Pat Wolfe, Mind Matters Inc. Retrieved from http://patwolfe.com/2011/09/brain-research-and-education-fad-or-foundation/

Images:

Schoolhouse-Photo-lo-res.jpg retrieved from http://www.schoolhousevineyard.com

learn_mark_brennan_cc-by-nc-sa2_flickr_heycoach-1197947341.jpg retrieved from www.infed.org

human-brain.jpg retrieved from www.wisegeek.org