Brain-Based Learning Strategies: Practical Applications

The human brain is the ultimate supercomputer.¹ Teachers use brain-based learning to boost student motivation and understanding. They do this by connecting to how the brain naturally works.¹ This approach aims to make learning an enjoyable and effective experience for everyone.²

Brain-based learning is becoming more popular in schools. Educators are eager to use the latest findings in neuroscience and cognitive science. Their goal is to enhance how students learn.²

Key Takeaways

• Brain-based learning research comes from social neuroscience, psychoimmunology, behavioral genetics, and cognitive studies.¹
• Students in these settings understand and remember more than in traditional classes.¹²
• Following brain-based learning leads to better grades, stronger memory, and improved social skills.¹
• A positive class atmosphere and mindfulness can improve how much students learn.¹³
• Adding movement, tailored teaching, and real-world examples boosts student interest and learning.¹²³

Understanding Brain-Based Learning

Brain-based learning uses the latest brain science to teach.³ It shows how the brain can change and grow.⁴

What is Brain-Based Learning?

Brain-based learning uses what we know about the brain to teach better.³ It looks at how students grow mentally, socially, and emotionally.³

History of Brain-Based Learning

Since the 1990s, we’ve learned more about the brain than ever.⁵ Research in 1994 showed brain-based teaching helps students remember and get topics better.⁵ Now, schools are using these findings to help students learn.

Key Principles of Brain-Based Learning

Creating a happy class, keeping students active, and making learning important are key.³ These come from fields like social science and the study of the brain.⁴

Brain-based learning uses insights from psychology and technology to teach.⁴ It aims to lower stress, make teaching clear, keep students moving, and provide chances to practice.⁵

Brain-based learning is also tied to growing emotionally and socially.⁴ Hands-on learning makes students think critically, helping them understand deeply.⁴

Using brain-based methods like different intelligences can meet each student’s needs. This highlights that we all learn in our unique ways.⁴

Benefits of Brain-Based Learning Strategies

Using brain-based learning can really help in many ways. It makes students remember more of what they learn¹. It also boosts how well they do in school¹ and helps their long-term memory¹. Plus, it makes them better at things like bouncing back from setbacks, staying motivated, and thinking they can get better¹.

When lessons match how our brains take in information, learning sticks better. This means students really get what they’re being taught¹.

Creating a positive vibe in the classroom is key. It makes students want to learn more. So, teachers should find ways to involve all the senses in learning. This includes using what you see, hear, and do to understand stuff better¹.

Also, time for giving feedback and reflecting on what’s been learned is important. It helps learning sink in. Plus, it’s good for the brain¹.

Brain-based learning works by getting students excited about learning. It does this by fitting how our brains naturally learn². Being in a class that uses these methods means you’re more likely to really get what’s being taught. This is compared to just sitting and listening².

Exercises like being mindful can actually change our brain for the better. This can make our thoughts and feelings improve¹.

Learning while moving keeps students alert and helps them remember more². Doing group work makes understanding easier since students can learn from each other². When students teach their peers, they themselves learn better too².

Trying and not getting something right away can sometimes be better than just trying to remember facts. It can lead to learning that lasts longer².

Classes with less just talking and more doing and discussing help us remember what we learn². Seeing how what we learn is used in real life makes it more interesting and helps it stick better². Adding variety to how we’re taught also improves our memory of the lessons².

Getting active, using humor, playing games, and talking about what’s happening around us makes learning more fun. It also helps us learn better².

Making the classroom feel safe and calm matters a lot. It helps students learn and do well². Brain-based learning supports many good things for students, like keeping skills, good performance, and happiness².

It’s all about creating learning experiences that feel right and fun. This way, students remember and want to learn more².

Listening to lectures doesn’t help us remember much. Brain-based learning has picked up since the 1990s. That’s when some key research showed it helps students remember and understand more of what they’re taught⁵.

Scientists have learned a lot about the brain since the 1990s⁵. They tell us that being active boosts how we learn. Taking breaks to walk, for example, can help students pay better attention and remember more⁵.

Having lessons that get students talking is a good idea. It’s much better for learning than just listening⁵.

Creating a Positive Learning Environment

Research shows that when students feel safe, their learning improves.³ To make this happen, teachers use fun icebreakers, morning meetings, and activities that build a sense of belonging.²

Promoting Positivity and Belonging

Belonging makes students work harder and enjoy learning.² Teachers use activities that help kids connect and make friends. This makes the classroom feel like a welcoming place for everyone.³

Reducing Stress and Anxiety

Reducing stress helps students’ brains learn better.³ Teachers teach mindfulness and other stress-busting skills to make the learning space calm and focused. This supports students’ brain growth.²

Engaging Multiple Senses

Brain-based learning tells us we learn better when we use more than one sense.¹ This means we should include ways to see, hear, and touch in our lessons. This helps students understand and remember better.¹

Incorporating Visual Elements

Visual aids like posters, infographics, and videos are great for students who learn best by seeing.⁶ Connecting what we see, hear, and touch helps to remember things more.⁶ By using different activities that match how different students learn, we make learning more fun and successful for everyone.⁶

Kinesthetic Learning Techniques

Hands-on and movement-based lessons are perfect for getting students involved.¹ Taking short movement breaks can make a big difference. It boosts student morale, focus, and creativity.¹ To make reading more engaging, we can use voice recordings, physical games with words, and even student drawings.⁶ Making these connections between what we hear, touch, and see strengthens learning.⁶

Brain-Based Learning Strategies: Practical Applications

Educators can make learning better by using brain-based strategies in the class. This includes meeting different students’ needs, offering activities that matter, and getting them deeply involved through group work, learning from peers, and hands-on tasks.¹²

Taloring what they learn, how they learn, and how they’re tested helps all students. Adding visual, auditory, and physical ways of learning to lessons pulls in all types of learners. This helps everyone get the material.¹

Real-world activities can spike student interest and join what they know with what’s new. This makes learning stick. When students get to apply their knowledge in real life, they remember it better.¹

Team projects and teaching each other boost learning because students engage with the topic more deeply. This way of learning together beats only listening to lectures. It’s shown to make what’s learned last longer.²

Using brain-based ways, teachers can match their classrooms to how brains work best. This can lead to remembering skills better, doing well academically, and wanting to learn more. It also helps build teamwork, boosts memory, and keeps students happy.¹²

Facilitating Active Engagement

Brain-based learning says being actively involved is key. It’s better than just listening in a class.² Group work and teaching each other help students understand more and remember better.² Also, doing things with your hands makes learning stick better.²

Group Work and Peer Instruction

Working in groups helps students understand things more easily.² Teaching others improves your own understanding too, making you remember more.² When teachers create chances for students to learn together, it fits how our minds naturally work. It also makes for a more fun and supportive space for learning.

Experiential and Hands-On Learning

Doing creative and engaging things can really boost learning.² Activities that let you put new ideas into action make learning deeper.² People’s brains love learning by doing and fixing problems. It helps remember things for a long time.

Differentiating Instruction

Brain-based learning understands that every student is different.⁷ To improve learning, we must tailor what we teach, how we teach it, and how we test it.⁸ For example, we might use pictures, sounds, or movement to help all kids learn.⁸

Tailoring Content and Delivery Methods

Helping each student learn starts with knowing what they like and how they learn best.⁸ Teachers should give different types of lessons and activities to meet everyone’s needs.⁸ They could offer different tasks at various levels,⁸ let students pick what to study sometimes,⁸ and set goals together⁸. This encourages students to be active in their learning.

It’s also key to have a learning area where everyone feels welcome.⁷ Mixing students with different skills and grouping them deliberately,⁷ helps. It ensures every student gets the right help, whether they work alone or in a group.⁷ Checking in and looking back on how they’re doing, along with regular tests,⁷ helps teachers adjust what and how they teach to fit each student.

When teachers really understand differentiation,⁷ they can build a place where everyone learns successfully.⁸ This approach boosts students’ interest and helps all of them do well in their studies.⁸

Real-World Relevance and Authenticity

Brain-based learning shows how important it is to connect learning to what’s real and meaningful for students.⁹ Tying new things to what students already know and care about helps them learn better.⁹ Letting them use these lessons on real-world problems can also get them more involved¹⁰.

Connecting Learning to Student Interests

Teachers boost learning by adding subjects students love. This gets kids interested and motivated to learn more.⁹ When lessons are real and close to their lives, students learn deeper. This spark more activity in the brain, making learning easier.⁹

Applying Skills to Real-Life Scenarios

Letting students work on real problems makes them more engaged and ready for life after class.⁹ These tasks should be like real jobs, giving students a taste of the professional world.⁹ Also, talking about current issues in class and going on trips to see experts help make learning real.⁹

Promoting Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

Brain-based learning makes students’ minds stronger in many ways. It helps them think critically and solve problems better.¹¹ Lessons that ask students to do more than just remember things, like look at info closely, help a lot.¹¹¹²

Good thinking involves logic, seeing what evidence shows, and looking at arguments carefully.¹¹ Doing exercises that mix in these thinking skills helps students learn to make smart choices and solve problems.¹¹ A study from 2019 found that asking questions and investigating on their own can really boost how well students think.¹²

Asking questions that don’t have a simple answer gets students to think deeply and share many different ideas.¹¹ Working on projects helps students learn by doing and thinking, which is great for critical thinking.¹² Hearing about lots of different ideas and opinions broadens students’ views, making them better at understanding others and thinking critically.¹²

Checking if a source is good and noticing any bias are crucial skills for students today.¹¹ Writing assignments can really help with this. They make students organize their thoughts and question what they learn. This kind of work shapes the way students think.¹²

When students talk together and share ideas in groups, it helps them think more deeply.¹² Making thinking skills part of every lesson is key to growing students’ critical thinking all year long.¹¹

Incorporating Movement and Brain Breaks

Research shows adding movement to learning boosts student motivation and creativity. This approach isn’t just for younger grades. It can also help older students pay better attention and remember what they learn. By letting students take short breaks to move around, teachers encourage not only their brain growth but also make learning more fun.¹

Activities like brain breaks, where students briefly move or do something different, reset their focus. Adding these to lessons can make students think better and join in more. These short breaks help teachers keep students sharp and interested, supporting their brain power and excitement for learning.³¹

Teachers who use movement-based learning and brain breaks help students want to learn more. They use the brain’s own desire to be active. This makes learning more successful and enjoyable for everyone.¹²

Fostering Mindfulness and Reflection

Brain-based learning highlights the value of teaching students mindfulness and reflection. Using methods such as meditation, deep breathing, and writing in a journal, students can learn to deal with stress and anxiety.¹³ These mindfulness practices make the classroom a calmer place. They also help students focus more on learning.¹⁴

Reflective practice is vital in brain-based learning. It gives students chances to self-assess, concept map, and write about what they’ve learned. This deeper look at their learning can reinforce their knowledge.¹³ These self-analysis methods essentially teach students how to manage their own learning. This gives them a feeling of control and self-awareness.¹⁴

Encouraging emotional regulation and resilience is key in brain-based learning. Such strategies create a more wholesome classroom environment. This benefits the students’ health and academic achievements.¹³ The focus on emotions also underscores the need to handle stress and anxiety well. This is essential for good learning.¹³

Source Links

1. https://www.continentalpress.com/blog/brain-based-learning/
2. https://onlinedegrees.sandiego.edu/brain-based-learning/
3. https://www.edmentum.com/articles/5-brain-based-learning-strategies-to-boost-learning-retention-and-focus/
4. https://www.waterford.org/education/brain-based-learning/
5. https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/brain-based-learning/
6. https://www.waterford.org/education/multisensory-learning/
7. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/differentiated-instruction-strategies-pbl-andrew-miller
8. https://resilienteducator.com/classroom-resources/examples-of-differentiated-instruction/
9. https://ablconnect.harvard.edu/make-real-world-connections-course-material
10. https://projectpals.com/key-components-of-pbl/the-role-of-authentic-tasks
11. https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-critical-thinking-middle-high-school/
12. https://www.teachhub.com/teaching-strategies/2014/09/teaching-strategies-to-promote-critical-thinking/
13. https://futureeducationmagazine.com/principles-of-brain-based-learning/
14. https://uen.pressbooks.pub/habitsofmind/chapter/mindfulteaching/