It's all about the medulla oblongata - the area of the brain responsible for autonomic functions —
blood pressure and breathing. Are there connections between the between brain functionality and educational practices?
The Brain Connection site is provides content about how the brain works and how people learn. The site is a source for discoveries relating to the brain from memory and behavior to illness and injury. Their aim is to provide informational tools for teaching and learning.
One featured article by Eric P. Jensen found on their Brain Connection's site outlines how understanding the brain and the complementary research can have practical educational applications. Jensen provides relevant historical context from critics of brain-based research to current advances made in the field.
As a result of advancements made by the brain-based community, educators are using knowledge related to brain-based education to shape education policy and practice.
Another sight worth noting is New Horizons for Learning. Their section on "New from the Neurosciences" contains articles on research, brain science, learning and the brain and brain-based teaching.
One article in particular by the primary author Timmi Jo Forbes was intriguing. The author found that most parents, teachers and students misunderstood learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As a result, Forbes uses neuroscience in the classroom to assist special needs students in discovering how they can learn.
A more in depth understanding of the brain can aide the educational field, from training material to instructional design in a plethora of ways. As research in neuroscience advances, I hope that a balance exist between brain-based research and fundamentals on education/learning. Experience is one the greatest teachers and coupled with science can be more impactful.
References
Retrieved from Brain Connection's website: http://brainconnection.positscience.com/
Retrieved from New Horizon's website: http://www.newhorizons.org/neuro/front_neuro.html
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Diving into Instructional Design
What is this blog about?
This blog will be used to learn about Instruction Design.
The goal is to include content (articles, other blogs, bookmarks and newsletters) of interest to aide others how to do ID better. Below are a few for starters.
In the summer of 2009, my previous Art Director, Nick Rapp decided to take a break from his job at the Associated Press and attempt a one-year overland travel around the world in a 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser.
This blog will be used to learn about Instruction Design.
The goal is to include content (articles, other blogs, bookmarks and newsletters) of interest to aide others how to do ID better. Below are a few for starters.
IDDblog.org is maintained by the Instructional Design and Development department at DePaul University. The site’s primary goal is to provide information on enhancing instruction through the use of technology.
Experiencing E-Learning
The author makes it plain. The blog is about: Building Engaging Learning Experiences through Instructional Design and E-Learning!!
Trans World ExpeditionThe author makes it plain. The blog is about: Building Engaging Learning Experiences through Instructional Design and E-Learning!!
In the summer of 2009, my previous Art Director, Nick Rapp decided to take a break from his job at the Associated Press and attempt a one-year overland travel around the world in a 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser.
His blog Trans World Expedition chronicles his trip. The contains a map of his trip, informational graphics (i.e., truck and equipment), expenses and a list of people who helped with the expedition.
Nick careful planned out the trip. He identified places that could be problematic while traveling.
With the use of infographics, Nick provided a snapshot of the number of days in each country, cumulative miles traveled, expenditures for fuel, food and lodging and cost of gas per mile driven by country.
As an instructional designer, this site provides the various methods that can be used to educate and instruct. Photos, text, informational graphics (charts, maps and diagrams) and video used strategically, not only captivates and audience but aides in educating individuals who learn differently.
According to Richard Felder, students preferentially take in and process information in different ways: by seeing and hearing, reflecting and acting, reasoning logically and intuitively, analyzing and visualizing, steadily and in fits and starts.
Felder contends that teaching methods also vary. Some instructors lecture, others demonstrate or discuss; some focus on principles and others on applications; some emphasize memory and others understanding.
In this video, Felder provides an Introduction to Learning Styles: How Students Learn, How Teachers Teach and What Usually Goes Wrong with the Process.
Felder (2005), suggested that students are motivated differently, have varying attitudes about learning and teaching, and respond in different ways to instructional methods and instructional settings. Understanding the varying ways in which students learn can aide instructional designers in many ways.
Ermer & Newby (1993) explained that information that is "chunked" in such a way that can be assimilated and/or accommodates is easily obtained by learners. Such structure in my experience has been most effective in self-absorption of information.
In this video, Felder provides an Introduction to Learning Styles: How Students Learn, How Teachers Teach and What Usually Goes Wrong with the Process.
Felder (2005), suggested that students are motivated differently, have varying attitudes about learning and teaching, and respond in different ways to instructional methods and instructional settings. Understanding the varying ways in which students learn can aide instructional designers in many ways.
Ermer & Newby (1993) explained that information that is "chunked" in such a way that can be assimilated and/or accommodates is easily obtained by learners. Such structure in my experience has been most effective in self-absorption of information.
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