Learningsourcorebusiness!

•Learning is our Core Business!

•Learning is a complex, unstructured business that is very difficult to describe

•Let’s ensure that we understand our core business as much as possible.

Some key concepts for us to consider that may help us in our understandings about learning

• The triune brain (Paul MacLean)

• Brain laterality (Roger Sperry)

• Theory of Multiple Intelligences (Howard Gardner)

• Some misleading mental models

The Triune Brain• 3 brains in one

• Reptilian brain (hind)

• Limbic system (mid)

• Cerebral cortex

Reptilian brain

• Includes the brain stem and cerebellum• Responsible for:-

-territoriality-mating rituals-ritualistic displays-hierarchical behaviour-daily routines

• Under threat, blood drains into the reptilian brain to support survival behaviours. It “switches off” the limbic system and cerebral cortex

• Key principle for learning:-the learning environment should minimise threat and uncontrollable stress.

Limbic system• Consists of several interconnected walnut sized

structures

• Responsible for:--social bonding-sexuality-emotions-expressiveness-values (i.e.what we value and feel is true)-memory

• Strong links between emotions and memory• Key principles for learning:-the learning environment

should promote positive self-esteem and engage positive emotions

Cerebral Cortex

• Divided into 2 parts or hemispheres• The key functional unit of the cerebral cortex is the

neuron and there are approx 100 billion neurons in the whole cortex, each of which is capable of operating at a greater level of complexity than most powerful microprocessors yet devised and each capable of making around 20,000 connections with any one of the others.

• Main area concerned with thinking and remembering

• Learning occurs when neurons form new connections and this occurs when we have to think and solve problems, to perform.

• “Learning is a consequence of thinking…As we think about and with the content that we are learning, we truly learn it.” David Perkins.

• Key principles for learning:- Learning activities should encourage learners to perform their understandings. There needs to be opportunities for active thinking and problem solving.

Brain laterality• Individual brains do differ• Preferences for using different parts of the brain lead to

different preferred styles of thinking and learning• The cerebral cortex is divided into right and left

hemispheres, which have distinctly different functions

Language

Logic

Mathematical formulae

Sequence

Analysis

Part-whole

Forms and patterns

Spatial

Images

Imagination

Whole-part

• Most people show a bias towards using one or other hemisphere, though the degree of bias varies considerably

• Effective thinking and problem solving requires “whole brain” learning, which integrates the functions of both hemispheres

• Processing information:- either “see the big picture” or “ordered logical sequence”. Most people can deal with either teaching approach, but some learners have such a significant bias that they are severely disadvantaged when info is presented in the alternate form

• Perceiving information:-our brain perceives info through 3 modalities-auditory, visual and kinesthetic. We all learn in all 3, but most people prefer one over the other 2.

• The right hemisphere of the brain develops at an earlier age than the left.

• Key principle for learning:- Effective learning involves integrating both sides of the brain-emotional as well as logical reasoning-creative as well as critical thinking-synthesis as well as analysis of information-searching for patterns and relationships as well as sequencing decisions and actions.

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences• “Frames of Mind” Howard Gardner, 1983

• He suggested that the human brain is designed to process 8 distinctly different forms of intelligence.-Linguistic-Musical-Logical/ Mathematical-Visual/ Spatial-Bodily-kinesthetic-Naturalist-Interpersonal-Intrapersonal

• Key principles for learning:-Each of the 8 intelligences can develop throughout life given appropriate learning experiences-Every learner has a different combination of strengths and weaknesses among the intelligences-Understanding develops through active involvement, which is best done initially through the strongest intelligence.

Misleading mental models• What is a mental model? A way of thinking that is firmly

entrenched because of our own experiences and understandings

• Some mental models that have permeated education systems for a long while:--the notion that ability is a single unchangeable attribute-learning involves the acquisition of pre-formed ideas