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Brain-Based Learning
Lee is a strong believer in
research-based instruction based on learning styles of the brain. She has
studied brain function for a number of years. Among the classes she took at the
University of Texas-Dallas are
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Physiological Psychology - which
detailed brain function and chemistry, |
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Perception - detailed brain
function regarding the senses |
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Drugs, Behavior and the Brain -
another course on brain chemistry and the effects of drugs |
Lee also has taken staff development
classes through Dallas ISD on brain function and learning styles.
It is important to remember that
"Cells that fire together, wire together." This applies to the
positive side of children learning as well as to criminal behavior. It is
extremely important that teachers help young children to reroute negative
behavior so that the we stop the neuron networks for mis-behavior in the
classroom that can lead to criminal behavior. As we observe the same child move
from Pre-K through 6th grade, we can see the path taken. Teachers are great
predictors of who will be in jail. In Texas, the failure rate on the TAKS 3rd
grade reading test is now used to help project the number of jail cells that
will be needed when those 3rd graders are adults.
It is in the power of educators to
"Change the Brain.SM
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The latest brain research, based on
neuro-imaging and brain-mapping indicates:
ENRICHED ENVIRONMENTS
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Research with animals has shown that the more enriched the
environment, the more dense and neuron/dendrite populated the brain is |
BRAIN PLASTICITY
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Brain growth does not stop at birth
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Dendrites grow larger in size and
number as we learn skills and gain experience |
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When neurons are activated, new
dendrites grow as a result of proteins (neurotrophins) |
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The amount of neurotrophins are
highest during childhood, but continues throughout life |
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Pathways or networks are created or reorganized due to dendrite
activity |
PRUNING
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Neurons that are not used self-destruct due to the enzyme
calpain |
MULTI-SENSORY LEARNING
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When a concept is taught using more than one sense, the brain
grows more pathways and these are stronger and reinforced (myelin heaths as well
as gray matter thickens); seeing, hearing, hands-on activities (kinesthetic) -
these reinforce learning IF AND WHEN the concept objective is presented clearly
(research shows that in many American schools, objectives are not presented,
although there are many activities provided for students; in schools in Japan,
Holland, and other countries, each activity is tied to a specific AND CLEAR
objective or concept so that students KNOW WHAT THEY LEARNED, not just that they
participated in activities). |
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Teaching across content areas also reinforces the storage and
retrieval of knowledge |
NEURON GROWTH
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By week four in the embryo, half a million neurons are being
created every MINUTE |
There are 3 areas of Education that determine how well we learn.
These are (click for detailed information)
Copyright 2002-2011 Lee Gabor All Rights Reserved
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