Brain Research and Learning Theory

By Caleb Cheung June 19, 2007

Whats Ahead
Brain Facts Basic Brain Anatomy Recent Research Application to Teaching

Warm Up
What do you know about your brain? What was learning in school like for you?
Think about a positive memory of a teacher or classroom experience Think about a negative memory of a teacher or classroom experience. How old were you? Cognitive (mind) vs. Emotional (heart)

Basic Brain Facts

Grapefruit to cantaloupe sized Weighs ~3 pounds Texture of soft butter Full of wrinkles or folds to maximize surface area Unfolded its the size of a newspaper

Basic Brain Facts

Contents:
78% water 10% fat 8% protein

Made of:
100 billion Neurons process and transmit information 1-5 trillion Glial Cells provides support

Brain Anatomy
Cerebrum Cerebellum Limbic System Brain Stem

Cerebrum
Receives, categorizes, and interprets information. Involved in rational decisions and activation of behavioral responses. Right processes information as a whole, in random order, and spatially (creative), controls movement on the left side Left processes information in parts, sequences, and language (logical), controls movement on the right side

Cerebrum
Frontal Lobe judgment, creativity, problem solving, planning, short term memory Parietal Lobe higher sensory and language functions Temporal Lobe hearing, memory, and language Occipital Lobe vision

Cerebellum
A computing machine for perception and motor control

Limbic System (inner brain)

Principal regulator of emotions, filters information before it reaches the cerebrum.

Limbic System (inner brain)

Hypothalamus Asks What is happening inside? Monitors regulatory system, automatic functions, emotions, flight, fight or freeze. Thalamus Asks What is happening outside? Relays all incoming sensory information. Amygdala Brains 911 system, reacts to incoming survival and emotional information. Encodes emotional messages to memories for long term storage. Hippocampus Plays a principle role in learning and memory. Checks new information with stored experiences. Creates new meaning, converts short term to long term memory.

Recent Research
1. Adaptability (plasticity) the brain changes constantly and grows new neurons potentially at all ages. It is influenced by our actions, experiences, and the environment. 2. Integration brain structures compete and cooperate, the limbic system can be a gate keeper to learning. 3. Sophistication the brain is highly complex.

Information Processing Model

Learning is like falling in love

Attraction spark Dating Exclusive dating Engagement Marriage Mature Relationship

What does this have to do with our teaching???

At age 5-12 (elementary & middle school, the brain has learned language and motor skills, now its concerned with active exploration, ready to take on new challenges, develop new interests.

Classroom Strategies
Water Movement Engagement Emotional State Memory Repetition Music Rewards

Importance of Water
If your body needs water, your brain starts to shut down. We have an electrical systems in our body. Water helps our cells talk to each other. If our brain was a computer, we would plug it in to get electricity for the electricity to work in our brain, we need water. The more water you drink, the more energy you have. Brain Juice

Water
Most people are dehydrated Sipping little bits at room temperature all day Water conducts electricity without it, there is a short circuit Formula - Half your weight in ounces each day Stress depletes the body of water increase the amount when under stress All academic skills are improved Improved concentration, mental and physical coordination Lack of water is the number 1 trigger for daytime fatigue

Movement
Exercise is strongly correlated with increased brain mass, mood regulation, new cell growth, and cognition

Stretches

Silly Sports and Goofy Games

Find a partner Decide whose birthday comes first (January December) The one whose birthday comes last holds the invisible ball Catch, basketball, tennis, baseball, racquetball, soccer.

Engagement
Student choose relevant and meaningful learning activities. Avoid embarrassment, failure, or harm. Help students feel safe. Keep direct instruction short: 8-15 minutes.

Engagement

Emotional States
Occur in the lower part of the brain Four basic states
Fear/Threat - Fight, flight, or freeze Joy/Pleasure Sadness/Disappointment Anticipation/Curiosity

Not who we are, transient

State Changes
Find a new seat Inside to outside Large group to small group Find three people who. Exchange some high fives Put your pencil in the air Thumbs up Imagine

Recap
Turn to the person sitting next to you, in front of you, or behind you Tell them 2 new things you could incorporate into your classroom Tell them the 1 thing you found most useful

Thank you!