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 #4 - Sleep
Overview
Sleep is very important for learning; there are many consequences for learning that arise from missing sleep and many benefits from a proper nights rest. Lack of sleep causes your brain to malfunction. You can become irritable, nauseous, forgetful and tired; it hurts attention, executive function, immediate memory, working memory, mood, logical reasoning ability, manual dexterity, and fine motor control, all of which can lead to developmental, attention and emotional problems. Lack of sleep can even affect the body’s ability to process food. These are not conditions conductive to learning in a classroom. Sleep is not just about being restful, it creates changes in the brain that improves and consolidates memory; if someone’s sleep is interrupted, that person’s learning cycle is disrupted. There is also evidence from recent studies, which demonstrate how the brain actually cleans itself of toxins while we sleep. So, when we sleep better, we also learn better.
Application to Learning
Napping is one way to help learning in a classroom. Humans tend to need to nap sometime in the afternoon when their circadian rhythm deems it necessary. Even a nap as short at 30 minutes can improve brain function. As an educator, you can help by providing your students with a short nap-time during class, educate them about the benefits of sleep, and provide strategies to help them get the best sleep possible at home.
Articles/Resources
Blog: Glenn Whitman, "Homework, Sleep and the Student Brain"
Online
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Provide resources to your students about the benefits of sleep and how to practice good sleep habits.
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Try to consider that your students might be taking more than one class and avoid bunching large assignments together at the end of the term.
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Be mindful of which time zones your students live in.