Today’s keynote is being done by John Almarode on “Brain-Based Learning.” I’ve never live-blogged before, so here goes!
Enrichment–he is talking about how the brain changes with enrichment. Brain cells change, etc. etc.
–Has to be a contrasting purposeful environment. A lot of what we do in classrooms are “maintaining” rather than a contrasting positive purposeful environment. LMC is the place to have these experiences. Why?
–Creates lower stress, allowing dendrites to grown and synaptic connections to happen. Helps to build memory and learning. Keys to Enrichment:
1. Challenge
2. Time
3. Novelty
4. Managed Stress
5. Coherence and Complexity
6. Nutrition
7. Socialization
How does this happen in libraries at specific schools? These are big things–makes me think how does this happen in the regular classroom. People are now sharing with their neighbors about this stuff–a lot of conversation going on. Good stuff here!
10 things were done this morning to enrich the brain:
1. Norepinephrine: a memory fixative. By doing a physical activity, it is a glue for memory. Movement helps to create this chemical level which cements the memory. Moving the students around, having the kids move, walk, run, just move–it helps. Also increases dopamine levels–the “yahoo!” feeling. This helps to expand working memory.
2. How do we grow new brain cells? Neurogenesis: growing new neurons? Forms in hippocampus, and can be regulated by every day behaviors. Exercise can routinely enhance levels of neurogenesis. 30 minutes 3 to 5 times per week can help–educators should encourage more, not less, physical activity in schools. This could enhance achievement scores. Exercise can up brain cells by 50% over time.
3. Hippocampus is the surge protector of the brain. It can only focus for about 15 minutes before it freaks and goes on overload. So, after 15 minutes, it overloads, and some type of physical activity is needed to reset things. Watch small video clips then have the students do something.
4. Neurogenesis is known to regulate our learning, mood, memory and overall health. Moral of the story is this:
“If the Bum is Numb, the Brain is the Same!”
5. Novelty is a key to activating the RAS: Reticular Activation System in the brain. We evolved to need to use this, so how do we keep novelty alive, especially in a Library Media Center setting? Good question.
6. Music use–he is using music throughout this presentation. Why? It manages stress. It allows people to turn to their neighbors and talk–others can’t hear it, but your small group can. It’s a safety net. “Turn and Talk,” and it works for people to chat in small groups. Helps to solidify the emotional memory. Good stuff, this is!
7. Make it behaviorally relevant: simple physical activity grows new brain cells, learning increases their survival and functionality, Nucleus Basalis=Cortical Imprinting. Activate Acetyle Cholene–this is the memory glue. We have the capacity to offer relevancy to any subject in the classroom. Physical movement–Keep it Novel, Keep it Relevant and Keep them Active. Three big things so far.
8. Areas in which to apply music:
-Coming in
-Discussion
-Movement
-After Class
When reading silently, classical music is what should be played.
9. “Find yourself 2, 3, 4, or 5 people to talk to.” This eliminates the “find a partner” issue. Kids in class can find more than one to be in a group, and if not, the teacher can stick them in a group. Or, “make a quick list of some things that interest you.” This manages stress. Tag-team reading is a stressful things because if a kid can’t pronounce things . . .they read ahead, etc. etc. Be aware of what teachers are asking students to do. Managing stress. Greater Stress = Fewer Neurons.
10. There is strong evidence that when kids are in a stressful environment for 10 minutes per day, 5 days a week, creates the dendrites to not grow. Also, increased stress causes DNA to age faster. When tension goes up, retention goes way down. Create a stress-free environment and make it safe. Manage stress and kids will learn more.
11. Manage social stress. Social stress is single biggest stress on the brain. Create socialization situations that are stress free, or that have less stress.
This was a great keynote address! There is a lot of good info that educational technologists can share with teachers. Good stuff! Thanks John!
Tags: brain based learning, library media specialists, Science, teaching
