The main idea of this chapter is
connections in the brain happen through neurons. Neurons have a cell body and
axons. Chemical messages are sent through the axons and across gap junctions
called synapse and are received by dendrites. These chemical messages control
our functioning. As the brain develops and learns, a fatty tissue called myelin
is wrapped around the axons that are used more frequently. Neurons and neural
connections that are not used as frequently are lost, this is known as neural
pruning. When we learn, we develop and reinforce the neural connections in our
brains. The increased understanding of the neural connections of our brain can
help us to educate better. One question I have is how can teachers apply the
knowledge we know about brain development in their classroom?
According to a brain scientist, development
has to do more with genes and less with environment. Every human is programmed to
have the same brain template (specialized lobes). Learning has to do more with environment.
The connections between the neurons are different based on the experiences a
person has.
According to the brain research
theory, repetition is a good way to remember things because it myelinates the
axon, which allows for faster, more reliable connections. This differs from the
IP theory because the IP theory claims that repetition is not a good way to
remember because it doesn’t encode the information into long-term memory or
link the information with any prior knowledge.
There are many different ways teachers can use their knowledge of brain development and use it to their advantage when teaching. One main way is by trying to keep students attention. Teachers can do this by decorating their classroom with bright colors and large signs, and having lessons that engage students and keep them attentive. Teachers can also have students practice essential skills such as basic spelling and math. According to neuroscientists, repetition is a good thing that causing myleination of the neural connections.
ReplyDeleteIt is also important for teachers to keep in mind the factors that affect brain development, such as environmental stimulation and gender differences. These, along with the strategies listed above, will help a teacher apply his or her knowledge of brain development in their classroom.