BRAIN-BASED LEARNING:
In the past two decades, neuroscience research has
proven the traditional classroom isn’t as stimulating for student learning as
it could be. Enter brain-based learning, an innovative approach to education
based on scientific research. It involves a teaching method that limits
lectures and encourages exercise breaks, team learning, and peer teaching.
Brain-based learning centers around neuroplasticity, or the remapping of the brain’s
connections when learning new concepts.
Brain-Based Learning: Definition, History,
and Principles
Brain-based
learning uses neuroscience to create an informed curriculum and lesson design.
The goal? Speedy and efficient learning. The research that informs this method
centers around the brain’s ability to change, remap, and reorganize itself
while someone is learning new information, according to Education Reform. This
ability is influenced by things like exercise, diet, and stress level. A
person’s emotional state also impacts their learning ability.
When
information is presented in effective ways, the brain is able to function
better, its resilience is increased, and its overall working intelligence is
improved. Research has also shown that the brain physically changes while
learning. Thus, the more new skills are practiced, the easier learning becomes.
Using
this research as a springboard, teachers implement brain-based learning
principles in the classroom. They specifically focus on reducing stress,
effectively delivering material, increasing students’ movement, and building in
opportunities to practice. While the principles remain the same no matter the
age of a student, people do begin to learn differently as they mature. So, the
delivery methods of these principles adapt accordingly.
History of Brain-Based Learning
Neurological
research gained momentum in the 1990s. Up until this point little was known
about neural pathways, and the left and right brain theory, introduced in the 1960s,
was decades old. From the 1990s up to the present day, scientists have
discovered more about the brain than in all other centuries combined, according
to the Global Digital Citizen Foundation.
In 1994,
Geoffrey Caine and Renate Nummela Caine’s research concluded that students had
increased retention and understanding of topics when in a brain-based teaching
environment. Since then, brain-based learning has become a more common practice
in schools.
Principles
of Brain-based Learning
The core principles of brain-based learning follow. Each
principle lays out a formula for better retention and learning among students.
Health and Exercise
The more active and engaged students are physically, the
better their learning outcomes. This requires more than a midday recess or a
walk between classes. Allowing students to take walking breaks during lessons
and throughout the day, for example, revitalizes students, increases their
attention span, and better prepares them to retain information.
Positive Emotions
The happier students are, the more they are willing to
learn and think effectively. Affirmations from the teacher are one way to raise
student self-esteem.
Group Work
Working in teams with classmates allows students to learn
from one another. This helps them retain information they may not have accepted
or understood from the teacher.
Peer Teaching
When students teach materials to their peers, it helps
them retain that same information. This can be done in small groups or through
presentations.
Practice
Learning through repetition and trial and error is more
effective than simple memorization. Students will gain a better understanding
of the subject through practice, rather than just memorizing the details.
Limited Lectures
Only 5 to 10 percent of information is retained during a
lecture, according to Classcraft. Making lessons largely discussion-based
promotes student learning.
Meaningful Information
Students are more likely to remember information if they
are engaged with the lesson. By applying the material to their lives, students
will find it meaningful. For example, a lesson on economics could be related to
smartphone ownership.
Written and Verbal
Information
Having students both write and verbalize information will
help move it from their short-term memory to their long-term memory.
Stimulation
Catching students’ attention through humor, movement, or
games stimulates their brains’ emotional center. In turn, this increases
students’ engagement and processing of information.
Less Stress
Stress chemically changes the brain. In a calm classroom
environment, students have the opportunity to perform at higher levels.
Benefits of Brain-Based Learning
The benefits of brain-based learning follow the principles. These include:
- Health. This
approach promotes health and exercise, boosting the overall fitness and
wellness of students.
- Better psyches. Positive
affirmations and limited criticism helps students feel good about
themselves and view themselves in a positive manner.
- Cooperation. The
more group work students do, the more they learn how to cooperate and
compromise.
- Improved memory. Overall,
brain-based learning helps students build their memories and retention.
The peer-teaching principle, in particular, leads to increased
memorization and understanding of information.
Teachers experience another major benefit from this
approach: more than one strategy works. This teaching and learning style aren’t
a one-size-fits-all experience. Teachers can apply multiple strategies
following the principles, making it likely they will experience results with
their students.
Classroom
Application
As it has multiple
strategies, brain-based learning also has many classroom applications. For
example, both verbal and written information can be included in lessons, which
boosts retention. Hands-on activities can also be created, such as providing
students with physical clocks to learn time.
Another application is
modeling assignments on real-world challenges students experience. For example,
when teaching about percentages, a shopping activity can be set up. Each item
could be on sale and the student challenged to calculate the sale price before
they can be rewarded with it. This activity can also be done in groups where
they have a budget to follow. This helps them learn problem solving and
critical thinking all in one activity, moving outside the lecture and into
practical applications of the lesson.
It’s important to note that
not all strategies work for all students. Regularly trying new approaches and
working through trial and error is the best way to begin implementing
brain-based learning in the classroom.
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