Download Brain Compatible Learning Strategies

Structure of the Brain
We are all born with a brain, but the
mind is developed.
Brain Class Mantra
• There is no learning without memory.
• Students make meaning by connecting to
existing knowledge.
• Neurons that fire together,wire together.
Practice makes permanent!
Schools shouldn’t be a place where
young people come to watch old
people work!
The brain is a wonderful organ…it
starts working the moment you get up
and doesn’t stop until you get to the
office. –Robert Frost
Structure of the Brain
•
•
•
•
Exterior
Frontal Lobes-planning and thinking; the
executive control system; monitors higher
order thinking, problem solving and regulates
the excesses of the emotional system; ”area
of sober second thought”
Temporal Lobes-sound, speech, some parts
of long-term memory
Occipital Lobe-visual processing
Parietal Lobe-orientation, calculation, and
certain types of recognition
• Motor Cortex (between the parietal and frontal
lobes) -- controls body movement and works with
the cerebellum to coordinate the learning of motor
skills
• Cerebellum (Gk-little brain)—coordinates movement
and balance; is important in learning, performing,
and timing of complex motor tasks. Stores
procedural (driving) and automatic memories
(alphabet/times tables/decoding words). Allows us
to multi-task. Needs both physical and mental
exercise to develop.(nurture)
• Broca’s area—located just behind the left
temple; is associated with speech
production, including vocabulary, syntax
and grammar (expressive lang)
• Wernicke’s area—located in left
hemisphere; responsible for
language comprehension
(receptive lang)
Stop and Connect!
• The brain is a muscle. The more one
part is used, the more it develops.
• Which of the exterior parts of your
brain are the most developed?
• Why?
• Does this have any effect on the way
you teach?
Brain Facts
The brain has enough electrical energy to light
a 25-watt bulb.
The brain accounts for only 2 to 3 percent of
body weight, but it uses 20 to 25 percent of the
body’s energy!
Interior Parts of the Brain
Divided into three parts based on functions:
• Brain Stem—oldest and deepest areas (reptilian
brain); vital body functions are monitored and
controlled (heartbeat, respiration, body
temperature, and digestion). All information passes
through the brain stem before going to other areas.
Deals with survival.
– Reticular Activation System (RAS)—located at the base
of the brain, controls arousal. It connects the frontal
lobes, limbic system, brainstem and sense organs—
receives all stimuli (Receives all stimuli)
Attention!
There are 4 main categories of things that trigger or focus
the attention of the RAS in the brain:
•
•
•
•
Perceived threat dominates
Physical need
Self-made choice
Novelty—something new/different
Neil Postman writes, “The attention span of humans was
considerably longer years ago,” citing the 8-10 hour Lincoln-Douglas
debates. Teachers are now competing with information overload
and teaching to brains whose attention spans are trained to process
in microseconds.
Our brain retains only about one percent of the
information that bombards us daily.
What Sustains Attention?
• Curiosity gets us in
• Prediction sustains attention
Question:
Novel sensory input would be most likely to
be admitted by the attention filter and
become memory if it was:
1. Sound 2. Smell 3. Sight 4. All of them
• The Limbic System—(old mammalian brain)
duplicated in each hemisphere. Placement
between the cerebrum and brain stem permits
interplay of emotions and reason. Houses
structures that control eating, drinking, sleeping,
hormones and emotions. It seeks balance or it
can’t send information on to higher levels.
– thalamus—information processing—receives all incoming
information (except smell). It determines where to send
info (visual cortex, auditory…). Keeps the brain updated
on what is going on in the outside world.
– hypothalamus —related closely to pituitary and pineal
glands - relays information from within the body to the
brain—homeostasis; sex; appetite control; sleep
Unless you want to know the
answer….
• #4 Multisensory input is most likely to be
remembered as memory is ultimately
stored in the brain cortex of the lobe
responsive to that sense.
Multisensory means multiple storage
areas—that connect!
The brain seeks clues to correct
“bets”
• Attention is sustained when predictions
can change
• Brains want to predict
• Need to be correct only 20% of the time
(video games/gambling)
• Needs to know if predictions are correct
• Learns from incremental feedback
• Questions, visual images, unusual objects,
songs, what is in the box? …
• The Limbic System—(old mammalian brain)
duplicated in each hemisphere. Placement
between the cerebrum and brain stem permits
interplay of emotions and reason. Houses
structures that control eating, drinking, sleeping,
hormones and emotions. It seeks balance or it
can’t send information on to higher levels.
– thalamus—information processing—receives all incoming
information (except smell). It determines where to send
info (visual cortex, auditory…). Keeps the brain updated
on what is going on in the outside world.
– hypothalamus —related closely to pituitary and pineal
glands - relays information from within the body to the
brain—homeostasis; sex; appetite control; sleep
• hippocampus—(Gk-seahorse) catalogs and
files factual information; sends other info for
permanent placement in other long-term
storage. The hippocampus does not function
until age of 3.
• amygdala—(Gk-almond) emotional memory
– determines whether info is emotional enough for
long term storage
– relevant in all info transmissions—amygdala’s
response always matters!
– Active emotional engagement is a key to
learning
When watching a movie, your
hippocampus remembers what you see;
your amygdala remembers how you feel
about it.
When meeting a new person,
your hippocampus remembers
who they are; your amygdala
remembers how you feel about them.
Cerebrum—largest of the brain areas. A large
fissure runs from front to back and divides
the cerebrum into two halves, called the
Cerebral Hemispheres.
• These two hemispheres are connected by thick
cable of over 250 million nerve fibers called the
Corpus Callosum (nature)
• The cerebrum is covered by a thin layer of
material called the cerebral cortex, or neocortex.
This is referred to as “gray matter.”
• The rest of the cerebrum beneath the cortex is
“white matter,” consisting of axons which have
been myelinated.
The Information Trail
• Information enters through the brain stem
and follows this path (except for smell, which
is directly processed into the amygdala and
hippocampus).
• The RAS decides how important it is and
sends it to the thalamus for sorting: visual
information is directed to the occipital lobe,
auditory to the temporal lobe and so on.
Each of these lobes has its own association
cortex where the information is identified and
associated with previous knowledge.
• Once this process is complete, the
information returns to the middle of the
brain where the hippocampus can filter it.
• If the information is factual, the
hippocampus will hold it for long-term
memory; it also catalogs the info to make it
possible to access.
• After information is catalogued, it is
redistributed to the sensory areas for longterm storage.
• If the information is emotional, the
amygdala jumps in before the thalamus
can send it anywhere
• If the amygdala sees an emergency, it
contacts the hypothalamus and sends out
fight or flight messages to pituitary and
adrenal glands.
• The amygdala’s response always matters!
Where does the brain go to college?
To a hippocampus
What did the hippocampus say during its
retirement speech?
Thanks for the memories!
Why is the left cerebral cortex always wrong?
Because it is never in the “right” hemisphere.
Stop! What are you thinking?
• Do you have any questions?
• Has your thinking changed?
• Are you confused?
Brain Fact: Visual –vs- auditory
Brain Activation
• The brain processes information differently
depending on how it’s communicated.
• When listening to a sentence, a different cortical
activation pathway was forged than when subjects
read the words silently.
• Total amount of activation was significantly greater
in both left and right hemispheres during auditory
as compared to silent reading.
• There is more semantic processing and working
memory storage in listening comprehension than in
silent reading.
Brain Cells
• The brain is composed of a trillion cells (all
present at birth).
• Two types involved with memory and
learning:
– Nerve Cells-neurons
– Glial Cells (Gk-glue)-hold the neurons
together and act as filters and nurturers.
Glial cells can reproduce; neurons can not.
Learning
Is
Connecting
• Neurons have branches emerging from
them called Dendrites (Gk-tree). Dendrites
receive electrical impulses from other
neurons and transmit them along a long
fiber, called the Axon (Gk-axis).
• The Myelin Sheath surrounds each axon.
The sheath insulates the axon from other
cells and increases the speed of impulse
transmission. Between each dendrite and
axon is a small gap called a synapse (Gkjoin together).
• The brain needs oxygen and glucose for
fuel. Water is also essential; it is required
to move neuron signals through the brain
(8 oz of water for every 25 lbs of body
weight every day).
• 1st sign of brain
dehydration is
irritability.
Enriched Learning Environments
Strengthen Brain Synapses
Enriching, complex environments—replete with
feedback, peer interaction, and meaningful
learning, not only produce better learning, but
help the brain grow new synapses and
strengthen existing ones.
Gray and White Matter
• Gray matter is the branching dendrites of
the neurons and the synaptic connections
they form. After birth, our brain’s gray
matter has another growth spurt (the first
is in gestation), with increased gray matter
and connections reaching a maximum
density at about age 11.
• White matter is the mylenation of the
axons.
Growth of Connections
The Dendrite Song
Use your dendrites
Use your dendrites
To connect throughout your
brain.
Take in info, analyze it,
Grow some new ones
Unrestrained.
Axons send out
Neurotransmitters
To the dendrites all around
Across the synapse
Jumps the impulse
New ideas can now abound.
Stimulation
Is what the brain needs
To make dendrites
stretch and grow.
New connections
Make us smarter
In what we think and
what we know.
Sing first stanza again!
What works even after it is fired?
A neuron
Why was the neuron sent to the principal’s
office?
It had trouble controlling its impulses
When is synapse like a tree?
When it is pruned.
Brain Fact: Syn-naps
• Brains need periodic rest for neurotransmitters to
replenish, so they can process new material.
• Neurotransmitters (ie. serotonin & dopamine)
transport information across the synapses. When
depleted by too much information traveling through
a nerve circuit without a break, the speed of
transmission along the nerve slows down and
information processing takes longer,
leading to student frustration, but also
to less successful memory storage.
• Depleted neurotransmitters rebuild within
minutes if the break is taken before
complete meltdown, but their rebuilding
takes longer if they are severely depleted.
Question: How does
this relate to your
classroom? What can
you do to keep
neurotransmitters
fresh?
Cerebellum
concept
An exterior
lobe
Means “little
brain” in
Greek
Located in
back of
brain
Coordinates
movement &
balance
Temporal Lobes
concept
Located on
both sides
of brain
In the left side
resides
Wernicke’s
area
Important
for speech
& sound
Is one of
the 4 lobes
Hippocampus
concept
Greek for
seahorse
Does not
develop
until age 3
Files
semantic
memories
Used in long
term
memory
We have a liver;
we have our limbs.
We are our brains.
What Makes Us Who We Are?
The 4 stations represent the following brain
functions:
– Attention
– Memory
– Language
– Emotion
Working with a partner, start at any of the
4 stations. Be sure to read carefully the
instructions on the Station Cards.
fMRI scan during visual memory tasks
What parts of the brain are
you using?
• Find the Brain Outline in your notebook
• Choose a different color for each of the
functions:
– Language
– Emotion
– Critical thinking
– Visual processing
– Memory
• Indicate on your brain what happens where.
How this all works
• Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry
information from one neuron to another.
• They affect how we feel and act.
• Divided into 3 groups:
– amino acids
– monoacids
– peptides
• Adrenaline—gets the body moving in times of
danger and stress
• Serotonin—often called the “feel good”
neurotransmitter. A lack of serotonin can
cause depression and low self-esteem.
• Dopamine—pleasure, sustained attention,
and motivation and perseverance
• Melatonin—chemical related to sleep
• Acetylcholine—related to long-term memory and
is contained in fat. It is the chemical responsible
for dreams.
• Endorphin—body’s natural pain killer. An
abundance creates feelings of euphoria. They are
the brain’s reward system. Found in a study that
when endorphins were blocked, subjects no longer
found listening to music enjoyable.
• Cortisol—released when we are under stress.
High levels can be toxic. Stress responses cannot
differentiate between emotional and physical
danger.
Serotonin, dopamine, and endorphin
can be increased in YOUR
classroom by doing the following:
• Play calming music
• Let students know it’s okay to make
mistakes
• Allow teamwork and social learning
• Celebrate learning--optimism
• Use movement
• Provide an outlet for expression, like journal
writing
• Read to students
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•
•
•
•
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•
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•
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Give students choice
Affirming touch—shaking hands`
Smiling
Positive feedback
Healthy competition
Peer interaction
Singing
Structure
Correct predictions
Achieved challenges
Light Bulb
Take a minute to jot down an idea, a
thought or a connection …..
Now, share your thoughts with a partner….
Brain Class Mantra
• There is no learning without memory.
• Students make meaning by connecting to
existing knowledge.
• Neurons that fire together,wire together.
Practice makes permanent!
Puzzles Prime the Brain for
Problem-Solving
• When encountering a mental block,
research suggests that taking a brainbreak and focusing on a puzzle or word
game may help solve the problem.
• Puzzles, word games, and brain-teasers
stimulate activity in the brain’s frontal lobe
and right hemisphere, making neural
connections more flexible for future
problem-solving
Bright Light Increases
Awareness:
• Darkness triggers the release of melatonin, a sleepproducing hormone excreted by the pineal gland.
• Bright light (2500 lux or higher; outdoor lighting
averages about 10,000 lux) slows or prevents the
production of melatonin, keeping us alert and more
in sync with our wake cycle.
• Fluorescent lighting, however, raises cortisol levels
in the blood, which impacts our central nervous
system and causes restlessness, while natural
lighting has a calming effect.
Brain Fact: Pet Your Pet
Stroking your dog or cat stimulates the
release of dopamine and serotonin.
Spend a little quality time with your furry
friend and you will both feel special.
Brain Fact: Smell the Roses
Studies show that the scent of roses
stimulates the production of dopamine and
serotonin—our body’s feel good chemicals.
So, whether it’s a bouquet or a candle, let the
scent of roses fill your home and your heart
with joy!
Is the woman turning clockwise or counter
clockwise? Can you make her change directions?
Reflect on your hemispheric results
• Did the results of your test surprise
you?
• Describe what the results may tell you
about your teaching.
• What implications do
your answers have
for your students?
LEFT HEMISPHERE FUNCTIONS
RIGHT HEMIPSHERE FUNCTIONS
Connected to right side of the body
Connected to the left side of the body
Processes input sequentially and
analytically
Time-sensitive
Prefers spoken, written language
Processes input holistically and abstractly
Problem solves logically, sequentially,
looking at parts
Problem solves with hunches, looking for
patterns
Space-sensitive
Prefers gestures, facial expressions,
emotions and body language
Does invariable and arithmetic operations Does relational and mathematical
operations
Specializes in recognizing words and
Specializes in recognizing faces, places,
numbers (as words)
objects and music
Active in constructing false memories
More truthful in recall
Seeks explanations for why events occur Puts events in spatial patterns
Controls feelings
Prefers ranked authority
Better at dealing with outside stimuli
Free with feelings
Prefers collegial authority
Better at internal processing
Division of Labor in the
Hemisphere
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AAAAAAA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
Original
Picture
A A A A
A
A
A
AA A
A
A
AA
A
A A
A
A A
A
H
Damage to Right
Hemisphere
Damage to Left
Hemisphere
Improve Right/Left
Communication
• Cross lateral activities from Brain Gym
• Cross Crawl: Sitting-elbow to knee as you
lift your knee; standing--hand to foot/front
or back
• The Elephant: Stand up, bend knees, glue
head to shoulder, point your right finger
and draw a lazy eight.
• Hook-ups: Right ankle over left; right hand
over left; lock fingers; bring to chest and
breath deeply
Willpower and the Slacker Brain
• 88% of all resolutions end in failure-2007 study
of more than 3,000 people
• The prefrontal cortex is responsible for willpower
• When it is over taxed, it doesn’t have the energy
to resist—cognitive overload
• Study: 2 groups-1 group given a 2-digit #; the
others, a 7-digit #
• Then they were presented with a snack choice:
slice of chocolate cake or fruit
• Students with 7-digit # were twice as likely to
choose the cake
Stop! What are you thinking?
• Do you have any questions?
• Has your thinking changed?
• Are you confused?
Brain Class Mantra
• There is no learning without memory.
• Students make meaning by connecting to
existing knowledge.
• Neurons that fire together,wire together.
Practice makes permanent!
Reflect on what we have discussed
today and…
Write about HOW you will use what
you’ve learned.
Ticket Out the Door
Ideas that “struck” you
Questions you still have
Thoughts, connections or suggestions