The field of education has seen a dynamic shift in recent years, with a growing emphasis on understanding the inner workings of the human brain to optimize the teaching and learning process.
This revolutionary approach, known as brain-based learning, redefines how educators design their curriculum and interact with students. By aligning teaching practices with the latest neuroscience findings, educators create classrooms where students can thrive and develop the essential skills needed in the 21st century.
Students in the Eastern Washington University (EWU) online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction program gain the necessary skills to apply brain-based learning practices to curriculum and instruction so that students can succeed.
The Basics of Brain-based Learning
Brain-based learning is an educational framework that leverages our understanding of the brain’s functioning to inform teaching strategies and curriculum design. An article by EdTechReview explains that brain-based learning stems from the idea that a deeper knowledge of how the brain learns can lead to more effective and impactful teaching methods.
This approach recognizes that each student’s brain is unique, so lessons should accommodate individual differences. Brain-based learning informs numerous teaching strategies, including active learning and emotional connection. Encouraging students to participate in discussions, projects and hands-on activities stimulates multiple regions of the brain, which leads to enhanced learning and retention.
By recognizing the role of emotions in learning, educators can create a positive and emotionally safe environment. Emotionally engaged students are more likely to absorb and remember information.
The Science Behind Brain-based Learning
Researchers conclude that engaging multiple senses (including visual, auditory and kinesthetic) helps encode information in the brain. Incorporating multimedia, interactive tools and hands-on experiences uses science to cater to various learning styles.
Brain-based learning encourages metacognition, where students develop awareness of their learning processes and actively reflect on their thinking and problem-solving strategies. An article from brightwheel, an early education technology resource, states that metacognition begins in early childhood and that brain development accelerates between the ages of two and five. Educators believe in the importance of applying brain-based learning during this critical growth and learning period.
How Can Brain-based Learning Strategies Benefit Students?
Brain-based learning strategies improve memory retention by capitalizing on how the brain stores and retrieves information. This approach dramatically benefits students who are constantly encouraged to think critically.
A Psychology Today article discusses how students in a classroom that facilitates a sense of belonging “are more likely to be cognitively, affectively, and behaviorally engaged, confident, and successful in their academic pursuits.” Brain-based learning promotes a more positive, emotionally rich learning environment, keeping students motivated and engaged and leading to better outcomes.
Brain-based learning also benefits students by supporting the development of executive functions like self-regulation, decision-making and attention control.
Incorporating Brain-based Learning Strategies in Curriculum and Instruction Design
Curriculum and instruction leaders are pivotal in integrating brain-based learning strategies into education. A post from teaching materials provider KidsKonnect suggests several key steps to consider when incorporating brain-based strategies and techniques into the classroom, including:
- Professional development: Provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities for teachers to stay updated on the latest neuroscience research and how to apply it in the classroom.
- Curriculum design: Encourage the development of lessons that emphasize active learning, emotional engagement and multisensory experiences.
- Supportive environment: Create an environment where teachers feel supported in experimenting with new teaching strategies.
- Data-driven decisions: Use data and assessment results to refine teaching methods and curriculum continuously.
- Flexibility: Support teachers in adapting and modifying strategies to meet their students’ unique needs.
Brain-based learning is a powerful approach that has the potential to revolutionize education. By embracing the latest neuroscience findings and aligning teaching practices with how the brain learns, educators can create developmentally appropriate and impactful learning experiences for their students.
Learn Instructional Best Practices at Eastern Washington University
Educators interested in gaining foundational knowledge in brain-based learning, current scientific research, best practices for developing and managing effective instructional programs and ways to foster supportive learning environments should check out EWU’s online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction program.
Program graduates are equipped to analyze data and apply research to adapt classroom instruction, adapt instructional strategies to meet the changing needs of students, and apply research-based principles to establish safe learning environments that value communication and collaboration.
Curriculum and instruction leaders ensure teachers have the means to incorporate brain-based learning strategies into their classrooms. The result is a generation of academically successful students who possess essential cognitive skills for life in the 21st century.
Learn more about EWU‘s online Master of Education – Curriculum and Instruction program.
