The BrainThe Black Hole in Education

Pat PhillipsAndy Simmons

Some Exterior Parts of the Brain

The Roles of Exterior Portions

Frontal Lobes

Planning and thinking Rational control center Monitor higher order thinking Regulating the excesses of the emotional system.

The Roles of Exterior Portions

Temporal Lobes

Deals with sound and music. Face and object recognition. Long term memory. Houses speech centers.

The Roles of Exterior Portions

Occipital Lobes

Visual processing

Parietal Lobes

Spatial Orientation Calculation Types of recognition

The Triune Brain Theory

Reptilian Complex

Limbic System

Neocortex

The Triune Brain Theory

• The Reptilian Complex– Consists of the Cerebellum and Brain Stem– The Cerebellum is responsible for movement– The Brain Stem controls “Fight or Flight”,

digestion, respiration, reproduction, circulation, breathing

The Triune Brain Theory

• The Limbic System– The limbic system was the second brain to evolve– It houses primary emotions– It houses the Amygdala which ties events to

emotions– It houses the Hippocampus which converts

information into long term memory and memory recall

The Triune Brain Theory

• The Neocortex– It is the outer shell of our brain and takes up 5/6

of the volume– It makes language, speech and writing possible– It performs logical and operational thinking– It allows us to see ahead and plan for the future

Fluid vs. Crystalline Intelligence

Fluid Intelligence

The hardware of the brain that determines sheer speed and accuracy of information processing

Reaction time, Concentration, Working Memory, AttentionDecreases with ageIs independent of socio-economic status

Crystalline Intelligence

The software of the brain that includes our knowledge base and mastery of emotional and social skills

Can increase with ageIs dependent on socio-economic status

Test Time

http://viscog.beckman.illinois.edu/flashmovie/15.php

Inattentional Blindness

• It allows us to perform higher order thinking• We still process small inputs but on a

subconscious level• ADHD students have difficulty with processing

out data

What it means for instruction

• Let the students know what the ultimate goal or big picture is in the lesson

• Minimize inputs that aren’t part of the big picture or goal of the lesson

Motivating the Unmotivated

Hypothalamus

Motivating the Unmotivated in the classroom

•Tap into students seeking circuit•Plan lessons that hold anticipation•Provide curiosity•Tap into student interests

Climate in the Classroom

Super Genius: Genetic or Made?

How to become a Super Genius

• Practice• Practice• Practice

Memory Superstars

• Used mnemonic strategy of memorization• fMRI showed that superstars used the spatial

memory portion of their brain• There was no structural difference in the

brains, the only difference was the areas they used

• A 2007 study of master chess players showed that IQ had no effect on ability, only time spent playing and studying moves

Types of Memory

• Short Term Memory

– Immediate–Working

• Long Term Memory

The Importance of Working Memory

• Time Limits• Capacity• Meaning and Sense Making– Emotion– Past Experience

Long Term Memory and Storage

• Encoding

Retention

• Practice• Guided Practice• Rehearsal

Aha! Moments

• The left hemisphere does our everyday verbal-reasoning processes

• The right hemisphere is our creative side• fMRI studies show that when problem solving

a sudden spark of activity occurs in the right hemisphere of the brain that activates novel circuits in the left side of the brain

Training the Aha ProcessFour Steps to Increase Creativity

• Focus on the problem for as long as you need to understand it.

• Mentally put into words your implicit assumptions. Write a summary of your understanding.

• Make certain you understand what you must do to reach a solution.

• What other ways can I envision this problem?

Connect each of the dots with four straight lines.

Lesson Planning and Organization

• Primary – Recency Effect

• Concept Planning• Short is Better

Primary – Recency Effect

Time Management

Things to Keep in Mind

• Fueling the Brain• The Power of Sleep• Exercise and movement

The Power of Sleep

Final Thoughts