Take an inside look at highly effective education programs that blend online and offline learning while incorporating the latest brain research and instructional methodology. For more than two decades, Yvonne Marie Andres has been a leader in integrating technology and content-driven collaboration to improve student achievement. This session will showcase highly effective education programs from around the globe that are blending online and offline learning, while incorporating the latest neuroplasticity findings and Constructivist Learning methodology. Brain plasticity or neuroplasticity refers to the brain's unique ability to constantly change, grow and remap itself over the course of a lifetime. Neuroscience is finding that digital media and our connectedness are affecting the brains of people of all ages, altering our attention, communication, socialization and learning. Brain imaging studies and cognitive neuroscience continue to give a clearer picture of how individuals respond to sensory stimuli and perform cognitive tasks. This has allowed for a better understanding of the brain's neural systems and how they relate to focus, learning, memory, and creative problem solving. Brain plasticity has significant implications for our entire education system, but, especially for those with learning disabilities and for aging citizens. How do we translate this knowledge of neuroplasticity into success for all learners? Technology is enabling a new form of connectedness that has greatly impacted the way we learn and the way we communicate. Individuals can no longer independently learn all they need to know and in a globally connected world, there is enormous value in using online tools to collaboratively connect and learn with others. How can we help teachers transition from traditional learning to new learning tools and experiences (e.g. Flexbooks, blended learning environments, collaborative projects, co-created content, global exhibitions and competitions, and virtual field trips) -- and move to the next level of online use the collaborations, people connections, and social interactions become as important as the information resources? Constructivist Learning theory finds that people learn best when they are involved in the construction of their own knowledge, when they create artifacts that serve as evidence of what they have learned, when they share those artifacts with an audience and they receive peer feedback. How important is media literacy, as students become content creators? Presenter will describe several innovative programs being implemented by schools around world that: • Improve student engagement • Incorporate 21 century skills, global awareness and workforce preparedness • Employ brain-friendly strategies to improve student achievement • Maximize and maintain student attention and focus • Promote executive function development and organizational skills • Tie instruction to future learning and creat

1. ISTE 2012

2. Looking for
the Next Best
Thing?
It’s Not What
You Think!

3. Your
Brain
Before
My
Session

4. After My Session

5. Brain Friendly
Learning Attributes
• Attitude
• Focused Attention, Cognitive
Engagement, Mindfulness
• Emotional Engagement
• Physical Engagement
• Repetition (10,000 hours rule)
• Memories Vs Memorization
• Novelty (Brain Snacks)
• Social Feedback

6. Constructivist
Learning Connectedness
Brain Plasticity

7. Digitally
Altered Brains
Q. Is Google making
us stupid?
A. We remain largely
ignorant of how the
internet is changing us.

9. ISTE 2012