Adolescents…What are they thinking?

Heather Von Bank Ph.D.Assistant Professor FCS

Child Development & Family Studies

Quiz time!Brain development quiz

Growth & Development During Adolescence Pruning the Tree: Brain Development

Inside the mind: Cognitive Changes

Adolescents in FCS Classroom

Why do teenagers have difficulty… Being rational, controlling impulses,

showing good judgment?

Are they just naïve, willfully disobedient, disrespectful, selfish. …sort of

Pruning the Tree: Developing Frontal Cortex Reason why adolescents have difficulty

reasoning, controlling impulses, judgment (5:07)

Under-developed frontal cortex responsible for controlling, planning, working memory, organization, & regulating mood

Use it or loose it principle What we do today strengthens skills for

tomorrow…

How to make decisions: Decision making skills

Making ethical decisions: “What Do You Want the Virtual World to Say About You in 10 Years”

Social skill development: Mock Job Interview

100% of adults identified this as FEAR

50% of teens identified this as SHOCK or ANGER

Identify this emotion

Emotional Regulation Amygdala

Teens: Rudimentary part of the brain that controls emotions

Adults: Frontal cortex regulates emotions

EXAMPLE: Emotional Intelligence

Inside the teenage mind: Cognitive Changes How thinking changes during

adolescence Concrete into formal thought Thinking about possibilities Problem solving “The Mangoes Problem”

Potential for Abstract Thought Think about situations that don’t exist

The Trolley Problem

What would you do?

Consider Many Factors Sarcasm, metaphors, double entendre

Panda mating fails: veterinarian takes over

Miners refuse to work after death New obesity study looks for larger test

group Children make nutritious snacks Criminals get nine months in violin case

Metacognition:Thinking about thinking

Imaginary Audience “…everyone is doing it”

Peer influence to drink Talk about it, Write about it, Role play, Publicize, Teach the steps

Personal fable “that’s not going to happen to me”

Texting & driving 97%: say it’s dangerous 89%: reply to text in 5

min 77%: have seen parents

text & drive

Adolescents in FCS Class More critical thinking

opportunities

Stimulate formal-operational thinking

Hands-on learning.. How about Service learning!!

Metacognitive skill training?

Encourage healthy eating or classroom management

Create a design magazine in groups

Play school with preschool children

Opportunities to practice self-monitoring &adapting

Any questions?

List of References/ResourcesTopic SitesInside the Teenage Brain http://youtu.be/yvmMiFHTifYDecision Making Skills Making http://dev.decisioneducation.orgEthical Decisions: Internet safety http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/blog/what-do-you-

want-the-virtual-world-to-say-about-you-in-10-yearsSocial Skill Development: Mock Job Interview

http://www.parentingscience.com/social-skills-activities.html

Emotional Intelligence Lesson Plans http://my.extension.uiuc.edu/documents/257080502080208/Emotional_Intelligence_13-18.pdf

Problem Solving: The Mangoes Problem

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L264

Abstract Thought: The Trolley Problem

http://youtu.be/Fs0E69krO_Q

Teach the Steps to Resist Peer Pressure

http://healthallianceonalcohol.com/peer-pressure-book/

Texting and Driving commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92kPKbXHqss

Metacognitive Skill Training http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/metacognition/teaching_metacognition.html