THE BENEFITS OF A BRAIN-

COMPATIBLE EDUCATION
ASHLEE MALTERER
EDU417: COGNITIVE STUDIES CAPSTONE
DR. LINEAU
OCTOBER 18, 2019
 PURPOSE: BRAIN
COMPATIBLE LEARNING
• What is Brain compatible Learning
• Traditional Learning vs brain compatible learning
• Neuroplasticity, Neurotransmitters & Genetic & Environmental Factors
• Movement, sleep, nutrition, and technology
• Benefits of brain compatible learning in these settings
• Information Processing Model
• Examples of an original lesson plan compared to a modified lesson plan to
be more brain compatible

• Summary, How and why to use brain compatible techniques

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MRS. MALTERER

• 26 years old
• 3 children
• Married for 6 years
• Hobbies: Spending time with family, game
nights, swimming, bowling, and traveling
• Attend Ashford Online
• Bachelors degree in Cognitive Studies
with a minor in Educational Psychology
• Mom, Daycare & Travel Agent
WHAT IS BRAIN COMPATIBLE LEARNING?

• Children learn through exploring

• Exposure to a variety of stimuli through each of our senses
• Hold onto and register with familiar information
• Language is learned through experiences
• Science and equations are learned through hands on/
doing
• Allow time to process and reflect on incoming information
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TRADITIONAL LEARNING VS BRAIN COMPATIBLE
LEARNING
TRADITIONAL LEARNING
• Been around and used to teach for a long time
• Has been only affective teaching method in schools
for many years
• Memorization, lectures, reviews and tests
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BRAIN-COMPATIBLE LEARNING
• New, but accommodates all students
• Never been used alone in an educational setting
• Stimulating activities
• Safe environment
• Imaginary play, music & art incorporated
• Structured experiences to build neural pathways
TRADITIONAL LEARNING
VS BRAIN COMPATIBLE
LEARNING CONT.
• Applying brain compatible learning
AND traditional learning
• Learning through experiences
• Make learning fun
• Add arts, music, crafts and fun activities
• Traditional learning focuses on
memorization, lectures, reviews and This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

tests
• Allow children to grow while having fun
 NEUROPLASTICITY

• Forms new synaptic connections through learning and experiences

• Neural pathways change
• Synaptic pruning
• Brains are programmed- experiences and environment play a role in what and how we learn

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 Acetylcholine- brains chemical messenger

NEUROTRANSMITTERS Dopamine: control conscious Fuel working memory

motor activities & enhances Better processing speed
& LEARNING pleasurable feelings and attention

Gifted thinking and

Serotonin: controls mood, creative problem solving
memory and attention Flexibility to enhance
cognitive achievement
MOVEMENT
• Cerebellum- in charge of movement
• Movements stored as patterns
• Skilled movements

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SLEEP

• Important to learning
• REM- consolidate memories
• Neural connections formed
• No sleep=no new neural
connections formed

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NUTRITION

Brain development & functions

Can cause children to have disabilities
Better grades in school
Improves attention, working memory, & episodic
secondary memory

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TECHNOLOGY

• Content, age, and time spent

• Enhance higher level thinking
• Negative effects- obesity
• Time spent, content, structure, context,
and mechanics of game

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INFORMATION
PROCESSING
MODEL
• Takes in sensory data

• Moves important information to

working memory

• Rehearse information

• Moved to long term memory for

later retrieval

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ORIGINAL
LESSON PLAN

• Original Lesson Plan : Fall

Leaves Fall!
• https://www.scholastic.com/t
eachers/lesson-
plans/teaching-content/fall-
leaves-fall-lesson-plan/
BRAIN-
COMPATIBLE
LESSON PLAN
• Modified Lesson Plan: Fall
Leaves Fall!
• https://ashleemalterer-
ashleekltravel.weebly.com/e
du417.html
 SUPPORTING BRAIN-COMPATIBLE LEARNING

• Role Play

• Projects

• Posters

• Peer teach

• Journals

Class debates

Games

technology

• Questions?

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WHY IMPLEMENT BRAIN-COMPATIBLE TECHNIQUES?

• New research
• Movement
• Breaks
• Every humans brain is unique in their own way
• High stress
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• Emotions
• Meaning
 HOW TO IMPLEMENT BRAIN COMPATIBLE
TECHNIQUES
• Brain breaks
• Activate prior knowledge
• Rich-simulating environments
• Group learning
• Safe place
• Changing displays
• Flexibility
• Active/passive phases
• Personalized space
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
 • Clikeman, M (n.d). Research in brain function and learning: The importance of matching
instruction to a child’s maturity level. American Psychological Association.

• Jensen, E. (n.d.). Brain Based learning strategies. Florida Education Association. Retrieved from
http://feaweb.org/brain-based-learning-strategies
Lackney, J. A. (n.d.). 12 Design principles based on brain-based learning research. Design
Share.
Retrieved from http://www.designshare.com/Research/BrainBasedLearn98.htm
Scholastic. (n.d.). Lesson Plans. Retrieved from
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/free-lesson-plans

• Fischer , K. W., Immordino-Yang, M. H., & , (2008). The jossey-bass reader on the brain and

REFERENCES learning. (1st ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

• Sousa, D. A., & Tomlinson, C. A. (2011). Differentiation and the brain: How neuroscience
supports the learner- friendly classroom. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.

• Wolfe, P. (2010). Brain matters: Translating research into classroom practice. (2nd
ed.).Alexandria,VA: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development.