Interesting article, What Brain Science Says about Teaching Teens via EdSurge, on teenage brains. More details on effective teaching appear afterwards.
Here’s an AI generated 3-2-1 summary:
Summary of Key Ideas from the Article
3 Facts:
- Adolescent Brain Development: The article highlights that the teenage brain undergoes significant development, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and complex thinking.
- Emotional Sensitivity: Teenagers are more emotionally sensitive due to heightened activity in the amygdala, the brain’s emotional center, making them more reactive to emotional stimuli.
- Learning Strategies: Effective teaching strategies for teenagers include incorporating social interaction, providing opportunities for autonomy, and using real-world applications to make learning more relevant and engaging.
2 Quotes:
- “The teenage brain is like a car with a fully functioning gas pedal (the amygdala) but weak brakes (the prefrontal cortex).”
- “Educators can harness the power of social learning by creating collaborative projects that allow students to work together and learn from each other.”
1 Question:
- How can educators balance the need for structure with the teenage desire for autonomy in the classroom?
Sources
[1] www.edsurge.com/news/2024…
Effective Teaching Strategies
| Strategy | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Chunking | Breaking down large pieces of information into smaller, manageable chunks to aid comprehension and retention. | [1][8][14] |
| Turn and Talk | Allowing students to discuss concepts with peers to reinforce understanding and retention. | [1][8][12] |
| Use of Technology | Integrating purposeful technology to promote critical thinking and problem-solving. | [1] |
| Collaborative Learning | Encouraging students to work together to enhance learning through social interaction. | [1][6] |
| Active Learning | Engaging students in activities that require them to actively process and apply information. | [14] |
| Movement and Physical Activity | Incorporating physical activity to improve focus, attention, and cognitive function. | [5][8] |
| Emotional Engagement | Creating an emotional connection with the subject matter to enhance memory and learning. | [5] |
| Positive Learning Environment | Establishing a supportive and nurturing classroom atmosphere to boost motivation and attention. | [5][8] |
| Teaching Neuroplasticity | Educating students about how their brains work and the concept of neuroplasticity to empower them to take control of their learning. | [2][7] |
| Practical Optimism | Setting achievable goals and providing regular feedback to foster a positive sense of agency. | [2] |
| Modeling Appropriate Risk | Demonstrating problem-solving and metacognitive strategies to encourage safe risk-taking in learning. | [2] |
| Retrieval Practice | Encouraging students to recall information to strengthen memory pathways. | [15] |
| Spaced Practice | Distributing learning over time to improve retention and understanding. | [15] |
| Metacognitive Strategies | Teaching students to think about their own thinking processes to enhance learning and problem-solving skills. | [7][15] |
| Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) | Integrating SEL to help students manage emotions, set goals, and develop interpersonal skills. | [18] |
| Growth Mindset | Encouraging a mindset that abilities can be developed through effort and learning from mistakes. | [17] |
| Use of Visual Elements | Incorporating visual aids to support learning and retention. | [8] |
| Brain Breaks | Providing short breaks to reduce cognitive load and improve focus. | [8] |
| Concept Mapping | Using diagrams to visually organize and represent knowledge. | [12] |
These strategies are designed to align with how the brain naturally processes and retains information, making learning more effective and engaging for students.
Sources
[1] Leveraging the Science Behind the Middle School Brain in your … www.amle.org/leveragin…
[2] Teaching to the Teenage Brain - ASCD www.ascd.org/el/articl…
[3] Power of the Adolescent Brain | Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D. www.institute4learning.com/resources…
[4] Research Spotlight: New Discoveries on How Teenage Brains … www.carnegielearning.com/blog/rese…
[5] Eric Jensen’s Methods in “Teaching with the Brain in Mind” - LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/pulse/unl…
[6] The Teen Brain: How Schools Can Help Students Manage Emotions … www.edweek.org/leadershi…
[7] The Teenage Brain Is Wired to Learn—So Make Sure Your Students … www.edutopia.org/article/t…
[8] Five Brain-Based Learning Strategies to Boost Learning - Edmentum www.edmentum.com/articles/…
[9] Brain Power: Teaching Strategies Backed by Cognitive Science www.carnegielearning.com/blog/cogn…
[10] An Innovative Strategy for Cultivating Effective Study Skills - PubMed pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37043292/
[11] Secrets of the teenage brain: a psychologist’s guide for teachers www.theguardian.com/teacher-n…
[12] Brain-Based Learning: 15 Strategies to Improve Student Learning … onlinedegrees.sandiego.edu/brain-bas…
[13] 10 Most Effective Tips For Using Brain-Based Teaching & Learning www.brainbasedlearning.net/10-most-e…
[14] 6 brain-based learning strategies that can boost teen learning www.greatschools.org/gk/articl…
[15] How Brain Science Transformed the Way I Teach www.learningpartnerships.org/resources…
[16] Education Technology Guides - EdSurge www.edsurge.com/research/…
[17] Whole-brain Teaching Strategies for the Diverse College Classroom www.facultyfocus.com/articles/…
[18] Teenage Brains Are Elastic. That’s a Big Opportunity for Social … www.edsurge.com/news/2019…
[19] Guiding Young People Not to Colleges or Careers — But to Good … www.edsurge.com/news/2022…
[20] Common Sense Survey: Homework Gets More Digital for Teens and … www.edsurge.com/news/2019…