Happy Brains! Happy Students! Happy Teachers!

Transcription

1 Happy Brains! Happy Students! Happy Teachers! Neuroscience in class Joaquín Triandafilide

2 Objectives for today Explore the human brain specialization to perform certain tasks Examine hemispheric lateralization Determine your hemispheric preference Check the implications for classroom instruction

3 Exercise 1 cambiar x otra Let s activate our brains!

4 Exercise 2: What is all of this about? Discuss in pairs Neuron process/transmit information axon dendrites 120 mts p/sec grey/white matter Hemispheres/corpus callosum 200 m cortex 48 x 48 cms 2 to 4 mm 5 lobes specialization lateralization unified whole

5 The Brain s Main Functions

6 The brain in pictures

7 Are you with me?

8 Lateralization

9 Left Hemisphere Connected to right side of the body Contains more gray matter (tightly packed neurons) Can handle intense, detailed work Right Hemisphere Connected to left side of the body Contains more white matter (neurons with long axons) Can handle broad, rather vague concepts

10 Left Hemisphere Processes input in a sequential and Analytical manner Time-sensitive Generates spoken language Does invariable and arithmetic operations Right Hemisphere Processes input more holistically and abstractly Space-sensitive Interprets language through gestures, facial movements, emotions & body language Does relational and mathematical operations

11 Different Functions Left Hemisphere Recognizes words & numbers (as words) Active in constructing false memories Seeks explanations for why events occur Better at arousing attention to deal with outside stimuli Right Hemisphere Specializes in recognizing faces, places, objects, and music More truthful in recall Puts events in spatial patterns Better at internal processing

12 Exercise 3: Based on the distinctions made in the presentation, now decide

13 Left Hemisphere Functions Processes input in a sequential and Analytical manner Time-sensitive Generates spoken language Does invariable and arithmetic operations Specializes in recognizing words and numbers (as words) Active in constructing false memories Seeks explanations for why events occur Better at arousing attention to deal with outside stimuli C O R P U S C A L L O S U M Sources: Carter (1998); Gazzaniga (1998a, 1998b); Gazzaniga, Ivry, & Mangun (2202) Right Hemisphere Functions Processes input more holistically and abstractly Space-sensitive Interprets language through gestures, facial movements, emotions, and body language Does relational and mathematical operations Specializes in recognizing faces, places, objects, and music More truthful in recall Puts events in spatial patterns Better at internal processing

14 Exercise 3: Answers

15 Reciting: left brain right brain!

16 Experiment: 4 volunteers needed!

17 Specialization does not mean exclusivity Each hemisphere has specialized functions, but usually both work together when learning or processing complex tasks

18 Preference Most people have a preferred hemisphere This preference affects their personality, abilities and learning style More R-H-P individuals are left-handed More L-H-P learners are women

19 What s your preferred hemisphere? Exercise 4

20 What s your preferred hemisphere? Exercise 4 Scoring: Count the number of A responses to questions 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, and 21. Place that number on the 1 st line. Count the number of B responses to the remaining questions. Place that number on the 2 nd line. Total the A and B responses you counted.

21 The total indicates your hemispheric preference according to the following scale: 0-5 Strong left hemisphere preference 6-8 Moderate left hemisphere preference 9-12 Bilateral hemisphere balance Moderate right hemisphere preference Strong right hemisphere preference

22 Did your score surprise you? Why or why not? What may your score tell you about your teaching? What implications does this have for your students?

23 Preference You also have a preferred hemisphere This preference affects your teaching style and strategies The students that have the same learning style you do Have been very lucky! What about the others?

24 Teaching Strategies that Activate Left-Hemisphere Functions Efficient Classroom Organization Have an efficient work area. Distribute the talkers around the room. They will spark discussions when needed Relevant Bulletin Boards Organize them according to the current content and easily understood. Clean the Board Keep the board clean. Eliminate unrelated word cues. Use a Multisensory Approach Let students read, write, draw and memorize in all subject areas.

25 Teaching Strategies that Activate Left-Hemisphere Functions Use Metaphors This is good to enhance meaning and encourage higher-order thinking Encourage Punctuality Stress the importance of time management. Encourage students to carry agendas Encourage Goal Setting Teach students to set study goals, to stick to them and to reward themselves when they achieve their goals Stimulate Logical Thinking Ask what if? questions to encourage logical thinking

26 Teaching Strategies that Activate Right-Hemisphere Functions Give students different options Allow them to do oral or written reports. A short play, simulation or dialogue may do Use visual representations Use illustrations, cartoons, charts, timelines, and graphs that encourage visual organization of information Help students make connections Tying lessons together and proper closure allow the brain to compare the new with the old information Encourage direct experiences Facilitate direct experiences through solving authentic problems /real world situations

27 Teaching Strategies that Activate Right-Hemisphere Functions Allow for student-to-student interaction They need time with each other. Whoever explains, learns. Teach for Transfer Teach them to use generalities and perceptions. Have them use metaphors, similes and comparisons Incorporate hands-on learning They need to discover and order relationships in the real world

28 Exercise 5: Work in pairs. TOPIC Left-Hemisphere Preference Right-Hemisphere Preference

29 Teaching to the Whole Brain General Guidelines Deal with concepts verbally and visually Alternate discussion with visual models. Write key words on the WB, then use a simple diagram to show relationships. Students use auditory and visual cues.

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31 Teaching to the Whole Brain General Guidelines Design effective visual aids How we position information on a visual aid indicates the relationship of the concepts.

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33 Teaching to the Whole Brain: General Guidelines Discuss concepts logically and intuitively Present info from different perspectives.

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35 Teaching to the Whole Brain: General Guidelines Avoid conflicting messages Words Tone Pacing Facial expressions Body language

36 Teaching to the Whole Brain: General Guidelines Design activities and assessment for both hemispheres Give students options in testing, so they can choose what suits their style.

37 In the space age the most important space is between the ears. Ann Armstrong Best luck with your students brains!!

38 Connect with us on / The English Connection and request for your pdf full version of Strategies to Teach the Whole Brain!

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