Learning With The Brain In Mind

The field of Brain Based Learning has grown significantly with the introduction of new technology allowing us to better understand how the brain functions and the effects of various circumstances including acts of learning and the brain's connection to that process of change. Learning with the Brain in Mind explores research about the brain being our gateway to learning, and how what we do mentally and physically is organized in the brain first. This book questions; Why some individuals experience meaningful learning while others do not? What should we know about the nature of learning? How should students be evaluated? Is there a need to rethink the relationship between learning and teaching? In general, current methods of teaching, regardless of the topic or setting, emphasize content, memorization, drills, practice, and test taking. Some approaches tend to look for what is broken and attempt to fix-it. An alternative, based on the brain's connection to the nature of learning, is to provide a safe, playful, less judgmental environment in which self-discovery, experimentation, and adaptation are encouraged.This book is arranged by first presenting a general description of the brain and nervous system and some of the terminology used in this book to enable all readers to have a common vocabulary and appreciation of the interaction of the nervous system to conditions that affect learning. The book then provides insights into how Brain-Compatible Learning can be accomplished.

′Excellent -- a wonderful, readable summary of what the educational world really needs to know about neuroscience′ - Sue Palmer, Literacy consultant and author of Toxic Childhood ′During the past few decades we′ve seen an explosion of information about the human brain. Sorting through the research and determining which findings have applications in the classroom is a daunting prospect. Fortunately, Frank McNeil has undertaken this task, doing an excellent job. Clearly written, immediately practical, this is one of the best books I′ve read in the field. It belongs on every teacher′s and administrator′s desk!′ - Pat Wolfe, Ed.D. Author of Brain Matters: Translating Research to Classroom Practice and President of Mind Matters, Inc. Learning with the Brain in Mind offers a fresh approach to teaching, exploring recent findings in neuroscience and combining them with learning in three crucial and interconnected ways: Attention, Emotions and Memory. Attention is the foundation for intellectual development as part of an essential survival strategy. Emotional relationships are the basis for brain growth and provide the foundations for acquiring cognitive and social skills. Memory has important influences on the sense of self and therefore on learning. The book provides: - evidence of the controversial impacts of diet, television and mineral supplements on learning, both at school and at home; - examples from three research studies offering insights into pupils′ attitudes to life and learning in school; - practical strategies that will help pupils to learn in more effective ways. Promoting new thinking about learning and considering innovative strategies that arise from our understanding of how the brain works, this book will help teachers, parents and other educators enhance children′s learning. Frank McNeil was Director of the National School Improvement Network at the Institute of education, and a former Headteacher, Principal Inspector for an outer London LEA and an Ofsted Registered inspector.

Using his findings to present practical strategies for enhancing pupil learning, Frank McNeil explores recent research in neuroscience and combines this with learning in three interconnected ways: attention, emotions, and memory.

When the first edition of Teaching with the Brain in Mind was published in 1998, it quickly became an ASCD best-seller, and it has gone on to inspire thousands of educators to apply brain research in their classroom teaching. Now, author Eric Jensen is back with a completely revised and updated edition of his classic work, featuring new research and practical strategies to enhance student comprehension and improve student achievement. In easy to understand, engaging language, Jensen provides a basic orientation to the brain and its various systems and explains how they affect learning. After discussing what parents and educators can do to get children's brains in good shape for school, Jensen goes on to explore topics such as motivation, critical thinking skills, optimal educational environments, emotions, and memory. He offers fascinating insights on a number of specific issues, including * How to tap into the brain's natural reward system. * The value of feedback. * The importance of prior knowledge and mental models. * The vital link between movement and cognition. * Why stress impedes learning. * How social interaction affects the brain. * How to boost students' ability to encode, maintain, and retrieve learning. * Ways to connect brain research to curriculum, assessment, and staff development. Jensen's repeated message to educators is simple: You have far more influence on students' brains than you realize . . . and you have an obligation to take advantage of the incredible revelations that science is providing. The revised and updated edition of Teaching with the Brain in Mind helps you do just that.

Understanding how the brain learns helps teachers do their jobs more effectively. Primary researchers share the latest findings on the learning process and address their implications for educational theory and practice. Explore applications, examples, and suggestions for further thought and research; numerous charts and diagrams; strategies for all subject areas; and new ways of thinking about intelligence, academic ability, and learning disability.

Practical "brain-aware" facilitation tailored to the adult brain Facilitating Learning with the Adult Brain in Mind explains how the brain works, and how to help adults learn, develop, and perform more effectively in various settings. Recent neurobiological discoveries have challenged long-held assumptions that logical, rational thought is the preeminent approach to knowing. Rather, feelings and emotions are essential for meaningful learning to occur in the embodied brain. Using stories, metaphors, and engaging illustrations to illuminate technical ideas, Taylor and Marienau synthesize relevant trends in neuroscience, cognitive science, and philosophy of mind. Readers unfamiliar with current brain discoveries will enjoy an informative, easy-to-read book. Neuroscience fans will find additional material designed to supplement their knowledge. Many popular publications on brain and learning focus on school-aged learners or tend more toward anatomical description than practical application. This book provides facilitators of adult learning and development a much-needed resource of tested approaches plus the science behind their effectiveness. Appreciate the fundamental role of experience in adult learning Understand how metaphor and analogy spark curiosity and creativity Alleviate adult anxieties that impede learning Acquire tools and approaches that foster adult learning and development Compared with other books on brain and learning, this volume includes dozens of specific examples of how experienced practitioners facilitate meaningful learning. These "brain-aware" approaches can be adopted and adapted for use in diverse settings. Facilitating Learning with the Adult Brain in Mind should be read by advisors/counselors, instructors, curriculum and instructional developers, professional development designers, corporate trainers and coaches, faculty mentors, and graduate students—in fact, anyone interested in how adult brains learn.

First released in the Spring of 1999, How People Learn has been expanded to show how the theories and insights from the original book can translate into actions and practice, now making a real connection between classroom activities and learning behavior. This edition includes far-reaching suggestions for research that could increase the impact that classroom teaching has on actual learning. Like the original edition, this book offers exciting new research about the mind and the brain that provides answers to a number of compelling questions. When do infants begin to learn? How do experts learn and how is this different from non-experts? What can teachers and schools do-with curricula, classroom settings, and teaching methods--to help children learn most effectively? New evidence from many branches of science has significantly added to our understanding of what it means to know, from the neural processes that occur during learning to the influence of culture on what people see and absorb. How People Learn examines these findings and their implications for what we teach, how we teach it, and how we assess what our children learn. The book uses exemplary teaching to illustrate how approaches based on what we now know result in in-depth learning. This new knowledge calls into question concepts and practices firmly entrenched in our current education system. Topics include: How learning actually changes the physical structure of the brain. How existing knowledge affects what people notice and how they learn. What the thought processes of experts tell us about how to teach. The amazing learning potential of infants. The relationship of classroom learning and everyday settings of community and workplace. Learning needs and opportunities for teachers. A realistic look at the role of technology in education.

How do the arts stack up as a major discipline? What is their effect on the brain, learning, and human development? How might schools best implement and assess an arts program? Eric Jensen answers these questions--and more--in this book. To push for higher standards of learning, many policymakers are eliminating arts programs. To Jensen, that's a mistake. This book presents the definitive case, based on what we know about the brain and learning, for making arts a core part of the basic curriculum and thoughtfully integrating them into every subject. Separate chapters address musical, visual, and kinesthetic arts in ways that reveal their influence on learning. What are the effects of a fully implemented arts program? The evidence points to the following: * Fewer dropouts * Higher attendance * Better team players * An increased love of learning * Greater student dignity * Enhanced creativity * A more prepared citizen for the workplace of tomorrow * Greater cultural awareness as a bonus To Jensen, it's not a matter of choosing, say, the musical arts over the kinesthetic. Rather, ask what kind of art makes sense for what purposes. How much time per day? At what ages? What kind of music? What kind of movement? Should the arts be required? How do we assess arts programs? In answering these real-world questions, Jensen provides dozens of practical, detailed suggestions for incorporating the arts into every classroom. Note: This product listing is for the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version of the book.