Brain-based Education

In the article A Fresh Look at Brain-based Education, Eric Jenson discusses how brain research evidence can help educators do their job better. Brain research can help educators answer the question “Why I do what I do?” and give a level of professionalism to their teaching by making the connection to methods proven to be effective by current brain research.

The current theory on learning connects multiple disciplines of brain research. It is believed that the brain, mind, emotions, body health, nutrition, social contacts, and the environment all affect the ability to be successful. Jensen states that, “Such issues as stress, exercise, nutrition, and social conditions are all relevant, brain-based issues that affect cognition, attention, classroom discipline, attendance, and memory.” In other words, the conditions that a learner faces vary each day, and so does their ability to learn.

Educators should not consider brain research as definitive proof, but rather that it contains valuable information to assist in developing affective approaches to teaching. Understanding that the brain is involved with, and affected by, everything we do allows a multidisciplinary approach to teaching.

Dr. Michael Merzenich’s article Lessons from The Hand and Mind Symposium guides the participants to make stronger connections between brain-based research and education. One presenter at the symposium, Richard Christen, explains the connection between physical movement and thought explaining that we have long understood the brain resources both activities share.

This article summarizes the conclusions of the participants on how hands-on learning can contribute to a learner’s success as this:

1. Multimodal sources of reference or affirmation actually directly impact semantic development and ideation.
2. The use of the hands in fine motor control is an important neurological prelude to reading.
3. Daniel Duford provided a wonderful description about how visceral (non-cerebral) drawing can be….We call this ‘synergism’!! Getting those hands in play is going to amp up learning rates!
4. Neurologically, hand gestures in communication provide a good way of alerting students because they represent a convergence of information reinforced in 3  modes: visual; hand; verbal instruction… and, picture = idea-in-your-head connection

In summary, these concepts help us understand that a hands-ON approach is a key to achieving that learning with high efficiency.