The science of Learning: How current brain research can ...
S.T.A.R. TheScienceofLearning: How CurrentBrainResearchCan ImproveEducation
eSM STAR THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING: HOW CURRENT BRAIN RESEARCH CAN IMPROVE EDUCATION
Dear Reader,
Technology in education doesn`t always have to apply to in-classroom devices such as whiteboards and 3D projectors--it also can contribute to student and teacher success by revealing insights into how the mind works.
Modern technologies that enable techniques such as brain mapping are helping researchers determine not only what the best conditions are for optimal learning, but also what makes different learning styles effective and for which types of students. They`re also helping researchers diagnose early signs of autism and evaluate the positive and negative effects of gaming on young learners.
In this latest School Technology Action Report, The Science of Learning: How Current Brain Research Can Improve Education--part of a series of STAR documents from eSchool Media: timely collections of news stories, case studies, white papers, and industry reports and surveys on pressing issues and relevant topics in education technology--you`ll find a collection of reports and resources that breaks down what scientists are saying about learning and the brain, and you`ll discover just what effects reading, physical fitness, multimedia, and much more have on the mind.
Thank you for reading this latest report, and be sure to check back soon for another STAR on a new topic.
Sincerely,
The editors at eSchool Media
Dennis Pierce, Laura Devaney, Meris Stansbury, Dennis Carter, Jenna Zwang
Editor
Managing Editor Associate Editor Assistant Editor Assistant Editor
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eSM STAR THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING: HOW CURRENT BRAIN RESEARCH CAN IMPROVE EDUCATION
Table of Contents
Big Picture Overview: What educators can learn from brain research Brain-mapping could illuminate how students learn Resources
Stimulation Physically active learning improves test scores, sharpens concentration Visual learning a key strategy in for helping students succeed How multimedia can improve learning Memory training helps with problem solving Resources
Arts & Language Arts Arts integration improves reasoning, general intelligence Reading boosts brain pathways, affects multiple disciplines Resources
Mind Games Can gaming change education? Even violent video games can be learning tools Resources
Early Childhood & Disabilities Study shows long-term benefits of preschool Kaspar the friendly robot helps autistic kids Resources
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Links and Bibliography About
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All rights reserved; reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of eSchool News or eSchool Media Inc. ? 2011 by eSchool News.
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eSM STAR THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING: HOW CURRENT BRAIN RESEARCH CAN IMPROVE EDUCATION
The Big Picture
Before learning about how different stimuli and exercises can affect specific functions of the brain, its helpful to start with the basics: being able to find pertinent and reliable research, and understanding current techniques in brain scanning that provide new insights into the human mind.
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eSM STAR THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING: HOW CURRENT BRAIN RESEARCH CAN IMPROVE EDUCATION
Overview: What educators can learn from brain research
As technology advances, new discoveries based on brain mapping are helping researchers understand how students learn. And those discoveries, in turn, are enriching and informing classroom practices in a growing number of schools.
Thanks to functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)?a type of non-invasive, low-radiation brain scan that measures neural activity in response to certain stimuli, and the most recently developed forms of neuroimaging?researchers are learning more about how we learn than many thought possible.
For example, perhaps the most shocking revelation in neuroscience is that the brain`s structure is more flexible than previously thought?a concept called neuroplasticity, meaning that the brain can still learn new concepts after various ages, and that every student can be taught many different ways. In a sense, the brain can be rewired.
Other studies have begun to measure reading aptitudes, the causes of and workings of attentiondeficit disorder, and the way the brain processes mathematics.
Yet, with all this new research, it`s important to remember that a single study alone is not definitive?and the best research is tied to classroom practice.
Michael Atherton, a researcher in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota, believes educators should look only at specific types of studies when considering implementation strategies.
Education is an applied field, like engineering, said Atherton. If there`s no connection to practice, then that research is best left to basic researchers in the cognitive neurosciences.
In Atherton`s report titled Education and fMRI: Promise and Cautions, he describes detailed research techniques used in fMRI studies as the foundation for a methodological framework that can be used by educators to assess how applicable a study might be for classroom implementation.
This framework has three progressive stages:
- Discovery. This type of study is a good foundational study, but it`s too broad at its current stage to have any direct implications for education. These studies typically focus on one area of
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