Brain Research and Cognitive Science in your classroom

Brain Research and Cognitive Science in your classroom

Eugenia Etkinaeugenia.etkina@gse.rutgers.edu

Rutgers University, NJ, DeltaPI 2011

http://pum.rutgers.edu

http://paer.rutgers.edu/pt3http://paer.rutgers.edu/scientificabilities

What is Learning?

Brain research

What is Learning?

Brain research

Learning is a physical process that happens through activation and extension of neural networks

Learning and brain

J. Zull, The Art of Changing the Brain, 2002

What is Learning?

Embodied cognition

Brain-body connection

What are you thinking about when you see these images?

Learning and brain

Image formation has to precede the words.

J. Zull, From Brain to Mind, 2011

Learning and brain

Language and mathematics occupy the same place in the brain - the separation in teaching is artificial

What is Learning?

Brain research

Learning is physical process

Cognitive research

What is Learning?

Learning is a social process that happens

when learners working together activate and

build on existing resources

Cognitive research

How do we apply this?

Brain research

Learning and teaching of physics

Learning is physical process of rewiring the brain

Learning is a social process that happens when learners working together activate and build on existing resources

Cognitive research

How do we apply this?

1. Set the learning goals of your class.

2. Make a list of things that you can observe, collect, etc. (data/evidence) that will show you that your students are achieving the goals.

3. Set a detailed plan of what THEY will do to be able to demonstrate 2. The plan should be based on the 12 slides above.

If you decide that you want to do PER – send me an e-mail asap

• Eugenia.etkina@gse.rutgers.edu