Brain research
Sample Solution
Brain Development and Student Engagement: A Look at Interleaving
One area of brain research with significant implications for education is new research on brain development. A recent article published in 2022, "The Teaching Brain: Beyond the Science of Teaching and Educational Neuroscience" [Frontiers in Psychology], explores the role of brain development in student-teacher interactions and knowledge retention.
The article discusses various studies on educational neuroscience, including one by Davidesco et al. (2019) that investigated the connection between student engagement and memory. This particular study used electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain synchronization between students and teachers during lectures. The results showed a positive correlation between neural synchronization and students' performance on tests a week later. In other words, students who were more engaged with the teacher's presentation, as evidenced by brain wave patterns, exhibited better memory of the material.
How this informs intentional teaching:
The results of this study highlight the importance of fostering student engagement in the classroom. Intentional teachers can leverage this knowledge to design lessons that promote active participation and connection between students and the material. Here's one way this can be implemented:
Full Answer Section
- Interleaving: Intentional teachers can use a technique called interleaving, which involves mixing up the practice of different skills or concepts during a lesson. This approach, as opposed to blocking (practicing one skill at a time), is thought to promote deeper understanding by strengthening neural connections. By introducing new information in a way that connects to previously learned concepts, teachers can create a more engaging learning experience that fosters stronger memory consolidation, as suggested by the Davidesco et al. (2019) study.
This is just one example, and educational neuroscience research offers a wealth of insights for intentional teachers. By understanding how the brain learns and remembers, educators can create more effective and engaging learning environments for all students.
Source:
- Friedman, I., Grobgeld, E., & Teichman-Weinberg, A. (2019). Imbuing Education with Brain Research Can Improve Teaching and Enhance Productive Learning. Current Psychology, 38(2), 503–513. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=90366