Gender, the Brain, and Learning By Angela Magon, M.Ed., B.Sc.
Brain and Gender: Why Care? innately interes6ng We learn un6l we die but some do it be=er Gender affects learning style
How The Brain Works? 1. Thumb test put your hands together! The thumb on the bo=om is your dominant brain hemisphere Le? Brain! logic, facts, math, pa=ern percep6on Right Brain!emo6onal context, imagina6on, crea6vity 2. Spin test video h=p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvdjupstoae Clockwise! lel brain Counter clockwise! right brain
Brain Myths We only use 10% Right Brain vs. LeL Brain people Intelligence is fixed Smarter people have bigger ones
Brain Facts: All of the brain is used all the 6me Rubber bands - not right or lel brained Brain rewards using your ap6tudes with posi6ve feelings Talent is not nearly as good as effort Brain can be stretched un6l the day you die
Facts About The Human Brain has about 100 billion neurons ¾ of them are in the cerebral cortex Learning and memory occur when neurons connect (synapses) 1000 to 10 000 connec6ons on one neuron
Brain Facts: Marian Diamond, 2001 Branches thicken with use, pruned with disuse Sleep is criical Use it or lose it
Consequences For Learning Late childhood! brain building spree Adolescence! pruned back when not used major learning takes place at specific 6mes!! The Human Brain is designed for survival in the jungle Increasing effort and a=en6on = increasing learning
What Gets Your (Brain s) ARenIon? Physical need or danger Novelty Interest (self- made choices) Hearing your name Enriched environment Visual tools/organizers Hands- on experiences Need Significant Physical Movement or change about every 15 minutes
Emo6on and memory are both chemically made Memories have emo6ons associated with them EmoIon and Memory Emo6ons can aid or interfere with crea6ng memory
Gender & Brain Structures fmri and PET significant gender- related brain differences grey ma=er (processing) vs. white ma=er (connec6ons) 80% vs. 20% rule
The Brain and Learning
Gender & Brain Structures Ex. Thickness and volume differences of structures! size of corpus callosum
Gender & Brain Processing Phillips et al., 2001
Gender & Brain Maturity Female visual cor6ces mature first in babies Male oxytocin levels lower! less interest in bonding Spa6al mechanical and gross motor skills mature 4 years earlier in males Language centers mature 6 years earlier for females Malcolm Gladwell and the 10 000 hour rule
Gender & Brain Maturity
Gender & Brain Maturity Pre- frontal cortex and the amygdala
Gender & Brain Maturity Girls develop prefrontal cortex faster Amygdala controls more of boys behaviour Stress can lead to be=er performance The same stress that s6mulates boys would shut girls down stress performance
ImplicaIons For Schooling Boys and School Male students lag behind females in most subjects More males drop out of school Boys get in trouble more olen Boys have 2/3 of diagnosed learning disabili6es
Strategies to Teach Boys Hands on ac6vi6es cri6cal Use graphic organizers and fewer words Speak in a louder voice Be careful with eye contact 1 idea per ac6vity Fewer transi6ons avoid mul6tasking Different approaches to discipline ex. Pass the ball
Strategies to Teach Boys Keep the classrooms cool Opportuni6es to be compe66ve physically and academically Use stressful situa6ons to mo6vate Create bonding opportuni6es Provide posi6ve male role models
Strategies To Teach Girls Must connect learning to real life! bilateral brains Emo6onal connec6on to teacher Building trust: sol spoken, smile, eye contact Opportuni6es to work as a group
Strategies to Teach Girls Posi6ve female role models Boost self confidence and self esteem Emphasize: success through effort not ability Physical ac6vi6es to improve gross motor and spa6al- mechanical skills Puzzles to train abstract reasoning skills
Gender Training and Single- Sex EducaIon Gender training is becoming more commonplace A modern take on single-sex education! 37% boys in co-ed classes! 59% girls in co-ed classes! 75% girls in single sex classes! 86% boys in single sex classes
Gender Training and Single- Sex EducaIon Co-ed but gender separated classes Emotional and behaviour benefits
Summary Effort and prac6ce are cri6cal Gender plays an important role in how people learn Good teaching is only half of what is required! but it is fundamentally important Thank you!