STIMULATING Brain Compatible Learning…

Through Visual Graphics and Questioning Aids

Carolina BarreraTEA Program Student Teacher Nora Elbilawi (GMU)

Brain based learning…

Caine and Caine conclude that "Optimizing the use of the human brain means using the brain’s infinite capacity to make connections–and understanding what conditions maximize this process."

This statement involves BOTH:

STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING PICTURE…

Why does the following picture show an excellent use of maximizing the brain’s process?

Continues…

They identify three interactive and mutually supportive elements that should be present in order for complex learning to occur: 1. An optimal state of mind that they call relaxed

alertness, consisting of low threat and high challenge.

2. The orchestrated immersion of the learner in multiple, complex, authentic experience.

3. The regular, active processing of experience as the basis for making meaning.

(Caine and Caine 1997)

QUESTIONING… As the term

"orchestrated immersion" implies, the teacher becomes

the orchestrator, or the architect, designing experiences that will lead students to make meaningful connections.

TEACHERS need to provide the oportunity for STUDENTS TO elaborate QUESTIONS!

Cont… QUESTIONING

Instead of the TEACHER always formulating the questions…

Have students COME UP WITH THEIR OWN!

FOR EXAMPLE: -Have the students be lost in a specific place and

make them formulate questions on how to get back to a certain area. Using (Who? What? Where? How? When?)

- For WRITING… any topic like “Values” have them come up with their own questions on how to approach the topic…

More on Questioning…

Students can learn to distinguish between questions by stems which can be listed on a classroom chart.

THAT WAY… They quickly discover the difference between "how," "what," "when," or "where" as opposed to "why," "what if," "suppose" and "in what ways might".

Teachers may then request that students formulate questions with certain stems.

TIME TO THINK… AND ASK?

IMPORTANT! For questioning to WORK… The key to climate in the CLASSROOM is the

attitude of the teacher towards questions. (should not…?)

There are many alternatives to the "Are there any questions?" approach (such as…?)

If a teacher desires student questions, they must be greeted with enthusiasm, a commitment of time and an unthreatening manner.

SO… NURTURE curiosity and the tools to quench its thirst…

GRAPHIC AIDS…

Graphic organizers are visual representations of knowledge, concepts or ideas. They are known to help: * relieve learner boredom *

They help visual and nonvisual students

They are wonderful ways to focus on or capture main points, to summarize information, to show logical arrangement of ideas, etc.

GOOD EXAMPLES…

K-W-L-H Technique

K W L H About

mammals…

Spider Map… (for Writing)

Series of events chain (for reading comprehension).

Compare Contrast Matrix

NAME 1 NAME 2

ATRIBUTE 1

ATRIBUTE 2

Problem Solution Outline

Network TREE