My Brain Friendly Learning presentation at DENSI 2012 in Bozeman, MT

1. Brain Friendly Learning
Ginny Washburne
Email: ginny_washburne@discovery.com
Twitter: gwashburne

2. I don’t know how to put this, but
I’m kind of a big deal

3. Objectives
1. Introduce brain research through 5 tips
2. Understand practical implementation strategies
3. Highlight Discovery Education content and resources
Have FUN!

4. Agenda
• Technology and the Brain
• Emotion
• Buy-In
• Movement Brain Breaks
• Play
• Feedback

5. Why brain research?
A Whole New Mind
Teaching Minds
The Big Learn
Differentiation and the Brain
Teaching with the Brain in Mind
Brain Rules
My Stroke of Insight

6. Why brain research?
Neuroplasticity

7. Technology and the Brain
Since waking up this morning, how many of
you have?
• Read or sent a text message
• Read or sent an email
• Posted to a social networking site
• Made or received a phone call
• Browsed the internet

8. Technology and the Brain
Technology Exposure:
8 ½ Hours per day
• Passive
-6+ Hours
• Active
-4+ Hours

9. Technology and the Brain
We must be conscious in
engaging students to think
critically by asking powerful
questions and promote
divergent thinking.

10. Why technology?
http://www.offthemark.com/cartoons/middle+school

11. 5 Brain Friendly Teaching Tips

12. #1: Emotion
EMOTIONS
Associated with the
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
Endorphins
Cortisol

13. #1: Emotion
Emotional Intelligence is equally as important as IQ
We need to develop the whole child.
~Pat Wolfe

14. Who are you?

15. Strategies to engage positive emotions:
• Goal Setting (emotional vesting)
• Learning Culture
• Hope
• Empathic Listening
• Growth Mindset
• You Matter
• Choice

16. #2: Buy-In

17. #2: Buy-In
• Meaning trumps Sense
• All learning is GOAL DIRECTED
Somewhere along the way, many students get lost…they
shut off their natural learning instincts…instead they try
hard to do what they were told to do- they study, they
pass tests, and eventually their love of learning is gone….a
real goal has been replaced by pleasing the teacher, or
getting a good grade.
(Teaching Minds- pg. 1)

18. #2: Buy-In

19. Strategies to achieve buy-in:

20. #3: Movement Brain Breaks

21. #3: Movement Brain Breaks
Guidelines for direct instruction of new content
Learning with the Brain in Mind, pg. 37 (Eric Jensen)
Appropriate
Grade Level
amount of
direct
instruction
K-2
5-8 Minutes
3-5
8-12 Minutes
6-12
12-15 Minutes
Adult learners
15-18 Minutes

22. Incorporating movement and brain breaks
• Rotating stations
• Brain Breaks website: http://brainbreaks.blogspot.com
• Answering questions with movement
• Kinesthetic lectures

23. #4: Play
It s the RIGHT thing to do.

24. #4: Play
Play, questioning, and imagination lie at the very
heart of arc-of-life learning.
~A New Culture of Learning-Thomas Brown

25. Paper Slide Videos

26. Strategies for playing with knowledge:
• Gaming -Teach with Tournaments
• Virtual labs
• Experiments
• Stations
• Project based learning
• Digital Storytelling (Paper Slide Videos)

27. #5: Feedback
Feedback conducted during the learning
process is the single most powerful innovation
that enhances achievement.
John Hattie

28. Feedback
• Teacher
• Self
• Peer
• Community

29. Do you ever feel like this?

30. Summary
• Brains are dynamic and can be changed.
• Discovery Education has a wealth of resources.
• DEN connects teachers to
their most valuable resource…
EACH OTHER

31. Thank you!

32. References:
Start with Why: http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html
You Matter: http://youtu.be/7FHdHUzRnms
Brain Rules: http://www.brainrules.net/introduction
World of 100: http://laufenberg.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/world-of-100/
Teach with Tournaments: http://www.teachwithtournaments.com/
Learning Readiness PE: http://www.learningreadinesspe.com/

33. Images and resources
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovelornpoets/6034634225/sizes/l/in/photostream/
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl5gBJGnaXs
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmrosenfeld/2952999865/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/demibrooke/2550349404/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/5292150656/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/adrianv/5110801617/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/pup/2205782794/sizes/l/in/photostream/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/langwitches/4954094789/sizes/l/in/set-72157622280132563/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/centralasian/3732470364/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/4759535950/