Host: Grace Rubenstein, staff writer and multimedia producer, Edutopia Presenter: Judy Willis, middle school teacher and neurologist and authority on learning-centered brain research and classroom strategies derived from this research Neuroscience is a complex field that educators don't often turn to for inspiration, but knowing a few basic concepts can help you plan teaching strategies that will prompt your students to be more receptive to learning. Find out how introducing a few simple techniques to your craft -- and increasing some of those you may already employ -- can encourage productive learning and actually change brain chemistry, increasing children's ability to learn (and retain) new skills and information.

1. How the Brain Learns Best:
Strategies to Make
Learning Stick
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Webinar ID: 142-908-197 / Dial-in: (312) 878-0211/ Code: 556-344-107
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2. Webinar Protocols
Audio
Listen online, or dial in: (312) 878-0211; code: 556-344-107.
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Useful Information
Webinar ID: 142-908-197.
Q&A
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3. How the Brain Learns Best:
Strategies to Make
Learning Stick
3
Webinar ID: 142-908-197 / Dial-in: (312) 878-0211/ Code: 556-344-107
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4. Dr. Judy Willis
middle school teacher, neurologist, and authority on
learning-centered brain research
of Milton
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5. Influencing the Brain’s
Structure and Function
What information gets into students’
brains, and where it goes
Encourage productive response to
learning: reflective, not reactive
Increasing students' ability to learn
(and retain) new skills and information
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6. Prefrontal
cortex
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Pathway to Conscious Thinking in the Prefrontal Cortex
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8. To get to the
conscious,
reflective,
thinking brain,
sensory input
must first be
unconsciously 8
be “selected.”
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10. QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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11. Survival First.
Reduce Stress: Input can go
through the RAS to the
reflective brain.
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12. RA RAS Interventions
Stability and Familiarity
Then stimulate Curiosity
with Change, Novelty, &
SuRPrise!
S 12
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14. “The force will be with you.”
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15. QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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17. QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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18. AMYGDALA
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19. !mygdal"
#mo$onal Fil%r and Conduc&'
Stressed state: input directed to
reactive brain =
fight/flight/freeze
Relaxed, alert state: input goes to
reflective brain 19
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21. AMYGDALA
Responds to: interest, relevance,
pleasure
Classroom strategies:
advertising, HERE/ME/NOW,
personalization, multisensory
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23. A: POSITIVE EMOTIONAL STATE – OPENS AMYGDALA TO PFC = BETTER MEMORY RETENTION
B: STRESSED STATE – NO PASSAGE TO PFC = LESS SHORT-TERM & LONG-TERM MEMORY
Adapted from Hamman, et al., Cognitive Neuroscience 23
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24. QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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26. PERSONALIZE
EVERY 10 MINUTES
Pause for destressing
(boredom/frustration)
with help, encouragement, or
enrichment
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27. STRATEGY TO
DECREASE STRESS
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28. PERSONALIZATION
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29. PERSONALIZATION
strategy
KID WATCHING
Student: Mark
Sport: Soccer
Favorite food: Pizza
Dog: Rex
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30. SYN-NAPS
BALL TOSS REVIEW
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31. The amazing do-it-yourself
brain surgery of 31
NEUROPLASTICITY
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33. STRATEGY
ANALOGIES WITH SOMETHING STUDENT
PICKS FROM BAG OF SURPRISE ITEMS
“MY BRAIN IS LIKE THIS LITTLE TREE,
IT GROWS MORE BRANCHES WHEN I CONNECT NEW
IDEAS TO THINGS I ALREADY KNOW.”
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34. Thank you for sharing your time with me —
and for caring about the students you teach.
“Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world. Indeed, it is the
only thing that ever has.”
—Margaret Mead
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35. Q&A
Please use the Questions pane on the right to submit
any questions you may have.
We will choose the most common questions to address.
For all unanswered questions, we encourage you to
continue the discussion online at edutopia.org/webinar-
discussion-april-2009.
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36. Contact Information
To contact or find out more about Dr. Judy Willis,
visit RADTeach.com
For articles, book chapters, and upcoming
presentations
To continue the discussion online, visit
edutopia.org/webinar-discussion-april-2009
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37. Thank You for Attending
Let us know what you think
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If you know other educators
who would like to be a part
of Edutopia, refer them to
edutopia.org/join.
Stay tuned for our upcoming
webinar in June about the
Digital Generation.
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