densi 2012 brain friendly learning

Brain Friendly Learning Ginny Washburne

Email: ginny_washburne@discovery.com Twitter: gwashburne

I don’t know how to put this, but I’m kind of a big deal

Objectives 1. Introduce brain research through 5 tips 2. Understand practical implementation strategies 3. Highlight Discovery Education content and resources

Have FUN!

Agenda���

•  Technology and the Brain

•  Emotion •  Buy-In •  Movement & Brain Breaks •  Play •  Feedback

A Whole New Mind Teaching Minds The Big Learn

Differentiation and the Brain Teaching with the Brain in Mind

Brain Rules My Stroke of Insight

Why brain research?

Why brain research?

Neuroplasticity

Technology and the Brain Since waking up this morning, how many of you have? •  Read or sent a text message

•  Read or sent an email

•  Posted to a social networking site

• Made or received a phone call

•  Browsed the internet

Technology and the Brain

Technology Exposure: 8 ½ Hours per day

•  Passive

-6+ Hours

•  Active

-4+ Hours

Technology and the Brain

We must be conscious in engaging students to think critically by asking powerful

questions and promote divergent thinking.

Why technology?

http://www.offthemark.com/cartoons/middle+school

5 Brain Friendly Teaching Tips

#1: Emotion

EMOTIONS Associated with the

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

Endorphins Cortisol

#1: Emotion Emotional Intelligence is equally as important as IQ

“We need to develop the whole child.”

~Pat Wolfe

Who are you?

Strategies to engage positive emotions:

•  Goal Setting (emotional vesting) •  Learning Culture •  Hope •  Empathic Listening •  Growth Mindset •  “You Matter” •  Choice

#2: Buy-In

#2: Buy-In

•  Meaning trumps Sense

•  All learning is GOAL DIRECTED

“Somewhere along the way, many students get lost…they shut off their natural learning instincts…instead they try hard to do what they were told to do- they study, they pass tests, and eventually their love of learning is gone….a real goal has been replaced by pleasing the teacher, or getting a good grade.”

(Teaching Minds- pg. 1)

#2: Buy-In

Strategies to achieve buy-in:

#3: Movement & Brain Breaks

#3: Movement & Brain Breaks Guidelines for direct instruction of new content

Learning with the Brain in Mind, pg. 37 (Eric Jensen)

Grade Level

Appropriate amount of

direct instruction

K-2 5-8 Minutes 3-5 8-12 Minutes 6-12 12-15 Minutes

Adult learners 15-18 Minutes

Incorporating movement and brain breaks

•  Rotating stations •  Brain Breaks website: http://brainbreaks.blogspot.com •  Answering questions with movement •  Kinesthetic lectures

#4: Play It’s the RIGHT thing to do.

#4: Play “Play, questioning, and imagination lie at the very heart of arc-of-life learning.” ~A New Culture of Learning-Thomas & Brown

Paper Slide Videos

Strategies for playing with knowledge:

•  Gaming -Teach with Tournaments •  Virtual labs •  Experiments •  Stations •  Project based learning •  Digital Storytelling (Paper Slide Videos)

#5: Feedback “Feedback conducted during the learning process is the single most powerful innovation

that enhances achievement.” John Hattie

Feedback

•  Teacher •  Self •  Peer •  Community

Do you ever feel like this?

Summary •  Brains are dynamic and can be changed.

•  Discovery Education has a wealth of resources.

•  DEN connects teachers to their most valuable resource… EACH OTHER

Thank you!

References:

Start with Why: http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html You Matter : http://youtu.be/7FHdHUzRnms Brain Rules: http://www.brainrules.net/introduction World of 100: http://laufenberg.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/world-of-100/ Teach with Tournaments: http://www.teachwithtournaments.com/ Learning Readiness PE: http://www.learningreadinesspe.com/

Images and resources

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovelornpoets/6034634225/sizes/l/in/photostream/ • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl5gBJGnaXs • http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmrosenfeld/2952999865/ • http://www.flickr.com/photos/demibrooke/2550349404/

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/5292150656/

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/adrianv/5110801617/ • http://www.flickr.com/photos/pup/2205782794/sizes/l/in/photostream/

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/langwitches/4954094789/sizes/l/in/set-72157622280132563/

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/centralasian/3732470364/

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/4759535950/