Find out some different types of workshops Brains Alive offers. All workshops can be adapted to suit individual site needs.

1. provides a professional learning service for parents, carers, families, educators, support
staff, and anyone interested in the development of young lives. Service is available in homes with families/carers and on
site. Brains Alive is directed by Jane Barbour.
Jane (MA. Ed) is an educational practitioner with a wide depth of experience across many settings in Western
Australia. She has worked as a classroom teacher, deputy principal, university lecturer (primary & ECE), learning
difficulties state wide support officer, students at educational risk district program consultant, behaviour management
district consultant, senior consultant inclusive education, web writer and training facilitator for Learning Support
Teachers, Senior Teachers and Graduate teachers on inclusive practices, Statewide Specialist Services Professional
Learning Project Officer, Community Kindy Playgroup Leader and a National professional speaker with expertise in the
field of contemporary learning theories, and practices congruent with this. Jane is a certified professional speaker
and trainer with Focus Education Australia who provides services at an international level.
Brains Alive professional learning service is based on grounded and solid research from leading neuroscientists and
authors in the field of integrating brain theory into practice. Jane discusses what the latest educational implications are
in relation to what brain research is discovering and what this means for the learning environment. Jane’s
comprehensive approach is congruent with brain theory. You will be provded with meaningful insights into the
processes involved in learning and growth, through developing an understanding of how information is processed, what
factors impact on the processes of learning and what you can do to support learners. Jane will help you create
conditions for others that they want to learn in. What Jane offers is incomparable service, a leader in the field of
educational neuroscience.
Further information is available from www.brainsalive.com.au or email l Jane at brainsalive@iinet.net.au
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORKSHOP OUTLINES These act as a guide and are negotiated to suit individual settings
WIRED FOR LEARNING SERIES
Workshop 1: A Brain is Born: Learn about how the brain is formed, wired up for lifelong learning and the
implications of this for the early learning setting. Examine the environmental influences and what you can do to support
the growth of a healthy and strong brain in care and at home. Reflect on your setting and how to support others.
Workshop 2: The Growing Brain: Do I have to? Examine how the brain develops; reflect on effective information
processing and its role in relation to supporting memorable learning. Review what the research says about adolescence
brain development & learning; the struggling v high flyer students; developing a positive concept about school and
increasing achievement. The Learning and Career Profiling System is introduced and how it links to supporting
individual learning.
Workshop 3: The Ways of a Genius: Connecting the Worlds: Take a second look at the individuals who walk
through your school doors. Help as many kids as possible become more aware of their unique talents and more
confident in their learning abilities.
Workshop 4: The Retiring Brain: The party’s just started! What can you do as an adult to support your brain now
you have retired? Reflect on the journey from birth until now. How your brain developed, how it grew and what you can
do now to keep it young and healthy.
Workshop 5: The Struggling Brain: Making Learning Memorable: Learn how the brain is wired up for learning, how
it can adapt and rewire itself when exposed to the right stimulus, the effects of poverty on the brain and development.
Discover which simple elements create the potential for memorable learning for students with learning difficulties.
Workshop 6: A Brainy Day: The Amazing Brain Student Workshop': Assist students to understand the complex
process of learning, so they can increase their sense of control over their learning performance.
TRAIN THE TRAINER
Workshop 7: Mind Your Brain: A Journey into the Mechanics of Learning, Emotions and Brain Care for Young
Minds: 3 day Train the Trainer for educators. Introduce students to the mysteries of their brains, its organisation and
functionality. Teach students to learn how to learn.
Brains Alive service overview 2011/2012 www.braisnalive.com.au
1

2. Workshop 8: Support the Support: Support and train mentors, volunteers and parents on how to support and
connect with students so institutional support becomes positive and sustainable.
COLOURS OF BEHAVIOUR SERIES
Workshop 9: Learning in the Emotional Rooms - how to create uplifting classrooms: Examine the 4 emotional
rooms of the brain we all move about in. Learn what each room means and recognise what room you are in, when and
why.
Workshop 10: What Colour Now: Bringing the Rooms Together: Apply what you have learnt in the Emotional
Rooms workshop, moving onto Red Room behaviours and practical application of the theory. Reflect and review
behavioural policies and practices in your setting and pull together current international research, theories and
reviews to guide whole school planning.
Workshop 11: Walking in the Blue Room with PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies): A social
emotional learning program designed to facilitate the development of self-control, emotional awareness and
interpersonal problem-solving skills. The program gives kids skills to express and recognize their feelings and develop
their social emotional skills.
IT’S ALL ABOUT ME SERIES
Workshop 12: The Joy of Play: Make the links from the latest brain based research to the theories over time on
play, reflecting on the nature v nurture elements, formalized learning pressures and what this means for your setting.
Workshop 13: Support a Reader: Explore the links between reading and speech and language development. Learn
how readers learn and equip yourself and others on how to support all readers, proficient and struggling.
Workshop 14: Support a Writer: Learn the processes of writing and how to support others across the different
genres.
Workshop series 15: Support a Teacher: developing inclusive practices for all learners: Develop your capacity to be
empowered and take control of the essential elements of teaching and learning and support inclusive practices in the
classroom.
PARENT SEMINARS
Workshop 16: Parents Nurturing Brainpower: Workshops encapsulate many of the key points covered from a
number of workshops. Parenting seminars topics are based on request. UPCOMING WORKSHOPS see website
RESOURCES
Brains Alive also provides a wide range of resources based on brain compatible strategies. Topics include:
Learning about the brain and how it functions (for teachers and parents)
Co operative learning games, activities, classroom strategies
Creating the right environment
Teaching tips and tricks
Curriculum support; multiple intelligences
“How the Special Needs Brain Learns”; Different Brains Different Learners
Nurturing environments for young lives
Behavior management; Raising resilient people
“Learning in the Emotional Rooms” plus much more.
Brains Alive has a collection of over 50 resource titles including books, posters, DVDs and School Programs.
Refer to the website for a catalogue, overview, prices and an order form or contact Jane about your specific needs.
Brains Alive service overview 2011/2012 www.braisnalive.com.au
2