Keeping the Brain in Mind! Effective Strategies for Excellent Instruction

Welcome to Brain Friendly Instruction!

Presenter:Paul W. Sears

Rhythm Connects Us! Who Am I?Paul W. Sears

Educator, Farmer, Author, Presenter

● Brain-Friendly Instruction● Teacher Education● Educational Administration● Science Education● Sustainability

paulwsears.com

OUR FOCUS TODAY - 5 BRAIN ALERTS1. The LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

2. KNOWING YOUR STUDENTS

3. PLANNING FOR LEARNING

4. DELIVERY OF INSTRUCTION

5. ASSESSMENT

Brain Basics● Adult brain weighs a little over 3 pounds, made up of

billions of nerve cells. About the size of a small grapefruit, shaped like a walnut

● Controls our feelings, behavior, and thoughts

● Collects and sorts information

● Controls unbelievably complex functions

● Masters spoken language(s)

● Stores memories of a lifetime

● Frontal – planning and thinking, rational and executive control center of the brain – higher order thinking, problem solving, regulates emotions

● Temporal – sound, music, face/object recognition, some long-term memory

● Occipital – visual processing

● Parietal – spatial, calculation, other types of recognitions

Brain Alert #1:

THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTWhat are positive things for the brain in the

learning environment?

Let’s play

“The Brain is Right!”

Brain Boosters● Water – delivers nutrients to the brain, eliminates toxins. Hydration

= brain function and alertness *Drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water/day!

● Oxygen - Brain cells consume oxygen and glucose for fuel. The more challenging task, the more fuel needed. Low amount of oxygen = less alert. *Exercise to oxygenate blood!

● Glucose – The form of sugar found in the blood from digested food. Fruit is excellent source. Eat moderate portions.

● Sleep – Brain needs sleep for reviewing/storing information. Vital to memory formation and to overall brain health.

● Novelty - The brain responds to novel information and situations with great attention and better retention.

Brain Busters• Nicotine – Absorbed by the lungs, enters into the bloodstream

and circulates throughout the brain. Can impede heart rate, breathing, memory, and learning

• Caffeine and Sugar – Coffee, soda, chocolate as examples. Acts as stimulant and dependency can develop. Too much can cause fatigue and headaches.

• Stress – A small amount can encourage increased performance. Prolonged stress can damage brain cells and impede memory storage and recall.

• Multi-tasking - Is really rapidly switching between different activities. This practice undermines our ability to concentrate and increases damaging stress hormones.

All Things In Moderation!

Brain Alert #1: THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

What should I do in my classroom to promote these things?

Brain Alert #2:

KNOW THY STUDENTSHow does the brain decide what is important?

How does new information get into the brain? Does it all get processed? Let’s watch some jump rope!

The Hierarchy of Information

S

E

X

S U R V I V A L

E M O T I O N

X T R A N E O U S

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

Brain Alert #2:

KNOW THY STUDENTS

S

E

X

What should I do to get to Know My Students better?

Brain Alert #3:

PLANNINGHow can effective planning impact student learning ?

SEX

Working Memory – Where thinking happens!

The capacity of working memory has limits.

The Importance of CHUNKING

● Providing the right amount of material in the right way for the learner

● Often taking individual units of information and associating them into larger units

● Let’s try an example:

Ready, Get Set, Remember!

CSIOMGCIALOLUFO

The Primacy-Recency Effect

We remember best that which comes FIRST

We remember second best that which comes LAST

Brain Alert #3: PLANNING

What should I do in my planning to include these things?

Brain Alert #4:

DELIVERY OF INSTRUCTIONHow will brain friendly instruction help

ensure that “in is in”?

What is required for information to move into

long-term memory? Sense &

Meaning

Average Retention Rate After 24 Hours

LEARNING PYRAMID

Brain CellsBrain composed of two types of cells – nerve & glial

Nerve cells – called “Neurons”, about 100 billion

Glial cells – (Greek for glue) hold the Neurons together, keep harmful substances out of neurons and support them

● Dendrites – tens of thousands of “branches” from core. Receive electrical impulses from other neurons

● Axon – transmits electrical impulses from neurons

“Synapse”

Let’s Play The Neural Network Game! Long-Term Storage

➢There is a 70-90 % loss of new learning within 18-24 hours.

➢If it can be recalled after this time, it is probably destined for long-term storage.

➢Adequate time is needed for encoding and consolidation of new information into storage networks (file folders). Sleep is crucial in this process.

The Cognitive Belief System“How we see the world”

The CBS is the sum total and combination of all that is in long-term storage.

No two people perceive the world in the exact same way.

Individual experiences result in different interpretations.

Self-Concept“The Way We See Ourselves

In The World”

Self-concept is shaped by past experiences – both positive & negative.

The addition of new positive and negative experiences alters self-concept.

Sense &

Brain Alert #4:

DELIVERY OF INSTRUCTION

Meaning

How should I teach to promote better

retention?

Brain Alert #5:

ASSESSMENTHow does ongoing assessment help me see if

“in is in”?

*Different forms of assessment*

● Formative

● Summative

● Periodic/Planned

● Unannounced

● 2 QUICK TIPS –

● Don’t assess, unless you are planning to take action!

● Greatest Impact – FEEDBACK!

Formative Assessment- It’s Ongoing!

✓ Focused on Learning Goals –

“Where Are We Headed?”✓ Where Are the Students In Relation To Goals?

✓ Take Action/ Help Students Move Towards Goals!

Finally, It’s All In the Feedback!

Brain Alert #5:

ASSESSMENTHow does ongoing assessment help me see if

“in is in”?

Brain Alert #5:

ASSESSMENTFeedback!

How does ongoing assessment help me see if

“in is in”?

Want to Learn More?● Consider “Brain Whys”

A book for parents and educators who want to understand their brain and to help develop healthy brains in kids

● Speakers/Workshops tailored to your school, your group, your needs

● Research base of all materials

paulwsears7205@gmail.com and paulwsears.com