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ASCD Webinar October 13, 2015
The Motivated Brain: Using the SEEKING System to Improve Student Attention, Engagement, and Perseverance with Gayle Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt
The Motivated Brain:Improving Student Attention,
Engagement and Perseverance
Tuesday, Oct. 13th, 2015 3:00 pm EST
Martha Kaufeldt & Gayle Gregory
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Learning Intentions:In this session: we will• Introduce the neuroscience of the SEEKING system & motivation
• Identify the three levels of the SEEKING system
• Suggest some classroom applications that foster the SEEKING system & student engagement
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Motivation• derived from the Latin movere, to move.
Motivation is the result of all organisms being in a position to “choose, seize and even seek out satisfaction”.
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Motivation:
“The process used to allocate energy to maximize the satisfaction of needs” Pritchard and Ashwood (2008)
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
ASCD Webinar October 13, 2015
The Motivated Brain: Using the SEEKING System to Improve Student Attention, Engagement, and Perseverance with Gayle Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt
Motivation
• Moving towards• Attracted to…• Seeking satisfaction• “Wanting”
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Affective NeuroscienceAffective neuroscience is the study of the neural mechanisms of emotion. This interdisciplinary field combines neuroscience with the psychological study of personality, emotion, and mood.
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Primary Emotional Systems
1. SEEKING – Expectancy2. FEAR – Anxiety3. RAGE – Anger4. LUST – Sexual Excitement
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
ASCD Webinar October 13, 2015
The Motivated Brain: Using the SEEKING System to Improve Student Attention, Engagement, and Perseverance with Gayle Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt
AdditionalPrimary Emotional Systems
5. CARE – Nurturance6. PANIC/GRIEF – Sadness7. PLAY – Social Joy – Friendly
interaction
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
#1 SEEKING – Expectancy System
• Instinctual drive that urges us to seek (Wanting)
• In charge of maintaining homeostasis
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
• In humans, this may be one of the main brain systems that generates and sustain curiosity, even for intellectual pursuits.
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
• Previously referred to as the brain’s “reward system” because it was believed that the release of dopamine caused us to feel pleasure when we met our goal or received the reward.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dopamine_pathways.svg#/media/File:Dopamine_pathways.svg
ASCD Webinar October 13, 2015
The Motivated Brain: Using the SEEKING System to Improve Student Attention, Engagement, and Perseverance with Gayle Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt
Dopamine is responsible for motivation
• The pleasure that is felt ‐ is the good feelings one has in looking forwardto something good, not the pleasure of obtaining something good.
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Dopamine (DA)• Is one of the main brain chemicals released when we are seeking,anticipating, and being motivated.
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Dopamine
•Gets us “Up and Out”
“Makes us excited when we think we’re going to get what
we need.”Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
OLD belief:
Our “reward system” is triggered when we complete a task…
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
ASCD Webinar October 13, 2015
The Motivated Brain: Using the SEEKING System to Improve Student Attention, Engagement, and Perseverance with Gayle Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt
NEWSFLASH: The SEEKING System provides us with continued enthusiasm, interest and motivation while
we are in the midst of processing incoming information
that is important for us. Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
We feel good while we are doing tasks – not just upon
their completion.
http://www.public‐domain‐image.com/free‐images/people/children‐kids/children‐while‐they‐play
SEEKING System• Curiosity• Interest• Foraging• Anticipation• Craving
Creative Commons https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisbrenschmidt/1831955837
Three Processing Levels of the SEEKING SYSTEM
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
ASCD Webinar October 13, 2015
The Motivated Brain: Using the SEEKING System to Improve Student Attention, Engagement, and Perseverance with Gayle Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
“Anoetic” Consciousness= without explicit knowledge.
• At the primary processing level, we are not consciously trying to learn and are intrinsically motivated.
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Primary Processing ‐ Instinctual
• “Generating” – Excitement and anticipation.
• Exploring the environment for resources and pleasure
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
“Sustained Anticipation”
Exciting feelings as we look forward to positive experiences
and pleasurable activities.
Creative Commons https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexnormand/5992512756
ASCD Webinar October 13, 2015
The Motivated Brain: Using the SEEKING System to Improve Student Attention, Engagement, and Perseverance with Gayle Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt
Novel or interesting (or threatening)
stimuli garner our attention
• Colorful visuals, Media• Interesting sounds, music • Things to examine (tactile), • Things to smell and taste
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Create classroom conditions for Level 1 SEEKING to flourish:
• Enriched environments• Collaborative activities• Unstructured, spontaneous play• Recognition of students’ needs and preferences
• Time to explore and make choices
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Primary Level SEEKING in the Classroom
• Novelty• Curiosity• Play
• Rich resources and realia
• Collaboration
Copyright free image Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Three Processing Levels of the SEEKING SYSTEM
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
ASCD Webinar October 13, 2015
The Motivated Brain: Using the SEEKING System to Improve Student Attention, Engagement, and Perseverance with Gayle Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Moving to Conscious Learning
• The point at which we move from innate primary processing to secondary processing.
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Satisfaction = Reward
• When we make a connection• Opioid system engages with a short burst of endorphins ,etc.
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Conscious Learning• Sensory stimulation and feedback from an experience or action =noetic consciousness
• “knowing about the world.”
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
ASCD Webinar October 13, 2015
The Motivated Brain: Using the SEEKING System to Improve Student Attention, Engagement, and Perseverance with Gayle Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt
Conscious Learning• When an experience gets intense enough or proves to be of value, we can describe and reflect on it.
• “Recognized awareness” is the beginning of the learning process.
•Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Secondary Processing• “Coupling”
–Hooking to prior learning–Relevance to daily lives
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Encourage the Secondary processing system in the
classroom by:• Discussing new learning experiences;• Making a connection to prior learning;• Discovering relevance to students’ daily lives;
• Creating sustained anticipation and interest;
Secondary Processing = Wanting
•Make a connection to what we already know and have an interest in
•Offer opportunities to socialize and connect with others
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
ASCD Webinar October 13, 2015
The Motivated Brain: Using the SEEKING System to Improve Student Attention, Engagement, and Perseverance with Gayle Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt
•Provide a “call to action” to help others with survival needs (CARE);
•Provide us time and tools to be creative and to play.
Secondary Processing = Wanting
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Three Processing Levels of the SEEKING SYSTEM
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
Tertiary Processing ‐ Cognitive• “Enacting” ‐ Applying ideas • Higher levels of thinking• Synthesis and creativity• SEEKING answers to new questions
Creative Commons https://www.flickr.com/photos/laffy4k/404321726
ASCD Webinar October 13, 2015
The Motivated Brain: Using the SEEKING System to Improve Student Attention, Engagement, and Perseverance with Gayle Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt
Strategic Thinking• Develop higher mental processes as we create hypotheses, make predictions, and fine‐tune our expectations.
Creative Commons https://www.flickr.com/photos/66351465@N00/14075184764
Motivation:The force or energy that results in
engagement.
In a classroom it is the complex interaction of teacher, student and curriculum that helps create motivation that yields high engagement.
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
• Learn at high levels and have a profound grasp of what they learn.
• Retain what they learn. • Can transfer what they learn to new contexts.
Students who are engaged: What is true “engagement?”Student engagement occurs when: • Students make a psychological investment in learning.
• Students are involved in their work, • Students persist despite challenges and obstacles
• Students take visible delight in accomplishing their work.
ASCD Webinar October 13, 2015
The Motivated Brain: Using the SEEKING System to Improve Student Attention, Engagement, and Perseverance with Gayle Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt
Engagement
• Fully involved in the learning process: enthusiastic and willing to take steps forward.
• Fun and excitement: having a joyful outlook no matter what you are involved with
Engagement
• Curiosity and creativity: questioning the world you live in and creating new things
• Spirit of adventure: being excited to venture forth, risking and trying new things
Leveraging the SEEKING System to Maximize
Student Motivation and Engagement
1. Primary processing: SEEKING–Create conditions for SEEKING–Provide enriched environment: novelty, resources, collaboration and exploratory play
–Offer variety and choicesGregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
ASCD Webinar October 13, 2015
The Motivated Brain: Using the SEEKING System to Improve Student Attention, Engagement, and Perseverance with Gayle Gregory and Martha Kaufeldt
2. Secondary processing: Wanting –Conscious coupling and collaboration
–Call to action, opportunities to make meaning
–Tasks to interact with contentGregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
3. Tertiary: Enacting and Extending• Applying ideas • Using Higher levels of thinking• Synthesis and creativity• SEEKING answers to new questionsThrough projects and problems
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
“Traditional schooling isn’t working for an awful lot of students. We can respond to that fact either by trying to fix the system (so it meets kids’ needs better) or by trying to fix the kids (so they’re more compliant and successful at whatever they’re told to do).”
Alfie Kohn 2014Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
A suggestion from Dr. Panksepp
“I agree that this SEEKING system, so important for generating feelings of “enthusiasm” as opposed to rewarding “pleasure,” needs to be on the radar of educators. If this system can be captivated by teachers, they have done half their job”.
—Jaak Panksepp, March 22, 2014
Gregory, Kaufeldt, 2015
© 2014 by ASCD© 2015 by ASCD
Gayle Gregory
gregorygayle@netscape.netwww.Gaylehgregory.com905 336 6565289 400 1853Twitter @gaylegregory6
Martha Kaufeldt
martha@beginwiththebrain.comwww.beginwiththebrain.com831 335 75901 866 83BRAINTwitter @marthakaufeldt