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WHAT IS BRAIN-BASED LEARNING?

Definition

ASCD'sA Lexicon of Learningdefines brain-based teaching as:

Approaches to schooling that educators believe are in accord
with recent research on the brain and human learning.
Advocates say the human brain is constantly searching
for meaning and seeking patterns and connections.
Authentic learning situations increase the brain's ability to
make connections and retain new information. A relaxed,
non-threatening environment that reduces students' fear
of failure is considered by some to enhance learning.
Research also documents brain plasticity, which is the brain's
ability to grow and adapt in response to external stimuli.

HISTORY

2,000 years there have been primitive models of how the brain
works

mid 1900s the brain was compared to a citys switchboard.

Brain theory in the 1970s spoke of the right and left-brain.

Later, Paul McClean developeda concept of the Triune

Brainwhich refers to the evolution of the human brain in three
parts. ( In this theory McClean hypothesized that survival
learning is in the lower brain, emotions were in the mid-brain,
and higher order thinking took place in the upper brain)

Currently, brain-based education embraces a more holistic

view of the brain

THEORETICAL BASIS FOR THE

MODEL/PROGRAM

All standards connect to brain-based learning, however, this is

one where the student analyzes how our brains work!
Family and Consumer Sciences
12th Grade
PA Standard - 11.4.12.A Analyze current research on
existing theories in child development and its impact on
parenting (e.g., Piaget, Erikson and prior findings

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAYS ABOUT BRAIN BASED LEARNING AND THE
IMPLICATIONS ACROSS AGE AND / OR GRADE LEVELS

Eric Jensens Book

Engaging Students With Poverty In Mind

Importance of modeling a positive attitude

WHAT THE MODEL LOOKS LIKE IN THE

CLASSROOM

Engaging students

Chunks of information

Time schedule

Teach then review

Shorter lesson then a student led activity

Brain breaks, rest, stretch, drink

Personal space

Time for discussion/reflection

YOUR TURN TO TRY IT!

Try Some New activity: Give students a tongue twister and have them
practice reading it aloud. Here are a few good ones: Of all the ties, I
ever tied, I never tied, a tie like this tie ties. Swan, swim over the
sea, Swim, swan, swim! Swan, swim back again. Well swum, swan!
Once the students get the hang of it, have them try to write their own
tongue twister.
Use your imagination: Have students pretend that they just won $1
million. They must use their imagination and write down all of the
things they will do with the money that they just won. Encourage them
to be creative and illustrate a few pictures too
Exercise Your Memory: Partner students together and give each team
a plate with 10-20 objects on it. Each team gets one minute to
memorize all of the objects on the plate. When the time is up they
must put a cloth over the objects and write down as many objects that
they can remember on a piece of paper.