Once you learn some basic neuroscience, it's easy to see the connection with learning. Using it for teaching is a fairly recent development, the two fields have traditionally been far apart. It started when neuroscientists began to compile years of studies on the brain and apply them to learning using new techniques such as MRI imaging. Soon, the fields of Educational Neuroscience and Cognitive Neuroscience were born. Next, educators started to teach themselves about the brain; some neurologists such as Judy Willis have even become teachers. Neuroscience is complicated, but with the help of the Internet and some ambitious individuals, the key principles can be distilled into easily understandable chunks and accessed readily. We have prepared 6 neuroscientific concepts related to learning to give you an idea of what is available online, and included online resources or ways to to apply them to online learning environments. ​
Teacher Lens
Neuroscience is just one form of information and research that experts filter, analyze and interpret for us, creating theories, frameworks, strategies and tactics that we can apply in our daily practice. As educators it is then up to us to filter what we are presented and determine how, when and why we will implement strategies in our classroom and in online learning environments.
As you review the 6 tips use your professional lens to determine what strategies resonate with you.
8 Brain-based Tips
Below are 8 Tips to explore. Hover over them to reveal the topic. Click to reveal the information.
Tip #6 - Exercise
Overview
The benefits of exercise are well documented and established. Even a small amount every day can dramatically improve your health by reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, cancer, dementia, brain atrophy and strokes. It also improves cognitive performance, memory retention and brain health, especially in older populations. Exercise regulates the release of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, which are associated with the maintenance of mental health. Exercise is so important that many school boards have implemented mandatory exercise policies. For example, the Ministry of Education in British Columbia requires each student to exercise for thirty minutes a day and requires teachers to report on it. Ask any teacher who uses exercise in their class as part of a regular routine, and they will tell you that it is a great way to manage behaviour, break up the day and re-focus students.
Application to Learning
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Give many short exercise breaks throughout the day so that students gain the benefits of exercise all day long.
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Use a variety of activities to keep things interesting. This will make exercise fun for students. Some ideas: Yoga, Crossfit, exercise videos, a quick tag game outside the school or simply have them run a made-up obstacle course around the outside of the school
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Educate students about the benefits of exercise.
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Encourage parents to sign their children up for extra-curricular activities.
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Articles/Resources
Online
Promoting and utilising exercise in an online course can be difficult; here are some suggestions.
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Educate online students about the benefits of exercise and encourage its use.
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Have students record an exercise journal where they have to reflect on how the exercise made them feel, then have them compare their experiences to their classmates in an online discussion forum.
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Encourage students to form sports-activity groups online through platforms such as Facebook or Google+.
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Build "activity time" into your course - reminders to get up and move after particularly intense or long learning sessions.