Print Credits

Capella University

Brain-Based Learning

Introduction

"Our brain has a natural, innate thinking and learning process. It knows how to learn and remember and is thinking soon after birth. Learning by the brain's natural learning process helps students become the motivated, eager, successful learners they are born to be."

Dr. Rita Smikstein.

Human Brain

The Brain: Quick Facts

  • Weighs about 3 lbs.
  • Takes up 2.5-5% of body mass.
  • Consumes 20% of body's energy.
  • Learning occurs through the growing and constructing of physical structures in the brain.

The Brain: Natural Learning Organ.

  • Has an innate logic.
  • Has a natural learning process.
  • Is a natural problem-solver.
  • Is a natural pattern-seeker.
  • Is internally motivated.
  • Feels pleasure when learning.

Learning

Non-Natural Learning Assumptions

  • The brain is a container in which knowledge is to be put.
  • Real teaching is done when teachers impart knowledge to students.
  • If students do not understand the material, then they do not have the ability.
  • Sequence of teaching has the instructor lecturing to the students, which is followed by a test of the information imparted.
  • Learning is pleasant for students only when the teacher, the materials, or assignments are entertaining.

Natural Learning Assumptions

  • The brain actively constructs its own knowledge.
  • Teachers give students the opportunity to be active learners.
  • If students do not understand the material, the students may need more background or preparation, or special help.
  • Sequence of teaching has the instructor giving the students the opportunity to be active learners first, and then lecture to add information to what the students already know.
  • Learning is pleasant when students are given the opportunity to be active learners.

Constructivism

Learning is Constructing Knowledge:
  • All new knowledge must be linked to something the learner already knows.
  • New and higher-level neural structures have to connect to or grow from structures (knowledge) already there.
  • You can't learn anything completely new.

Active Learning vs. Passive Learning

  • Students must be directly involved in creating their own learning, rather than being passive recipients of instruction.
  • Process of reflection is critical.

5 Rules of How the Brain Learns

1. Dendrites, synapses, and neural networks grow off what is already there.

  • Like twigs on a tree
  • Can't grow off of nothing.
  • Learning starts by making a connection to prior knowledge or experience.
  • To learn something new we must start with something familiar.

2. Dendrites grow from what is actively, personally, and specifically experienced and practiced.

  • New networks are constructed for each new concept or skill.
  • As people practice, they build better structures for that particular skill or knowledge.
  • Practice means making mistakes, learning from them, correcting and starting over.
  • Making mistakes is a natural part of learning.

3. Dendrites grow from stimulating experiences.

  • The chemical electrical process needs to be stimulated.
  • Stimulating experiences activate the brain.

4. Use it or lose it.

  • Dendrites will be lost if you don't use them.
  • Process of pruning skills or ideas not used or practiced.

5. Emotions affect learning.

  • Emotions can have a major impact on learning and remembering. Negative emotions can help students forget or not connect new information.
  • Self-doubt, fear and other negative emotions can keep you from learning and remembering.
  • Confidence, interests and other positive emotions help the learning and remembering process.

Physical Processes of Learning

  • Learning, thinking, and remembering are the brain's natural physical, electrical and chemical processes.
  • We construct physical structures in the brain every time we connect new information to previous knowledge.
  • Brain nerve cells or neurons grow branch-like fibers known as dendrites.
  • Dendrites are our memory or knowledge of the concept or skill.
  • The larger our network of dendrites, the larger our knowledge of the concept or skill.
  • Dendrite fibers are connected at electrical connections points called synapses.
    • Axon Neuron A
    • Synaptic Gap Synapse
    • Dendrite Neuron B

  • As we learn about a concept or skill, we grow a network of dendrites (neural network).

    • Learning Stages

    Stage Description How to Teach
    Mastery Increased creativity, broader application, teaching it, continuing improvement, expert (or dropping the activity) Student utilizes skill in creative application
    Refinement Automization or becoming second nature, creativity, learning new methods, strong satisfaction Skill is second nature-automatic. Knows why!
    Skillfulness More practice, doing it one's own way, deviating from the norm, taking risks, creativity, branching out. More Practice, student does the skill alone
    Advanced Practice Increased of skill and confidence through more practice, more trail & error, getting comfortable Increased of skill difficulty and build the confidence of the learner through trail and error.
    Begin Practice Doing it ("practice, practice, practice"), learning from one's own mistakes. Starting to get the feel for it. Guide the student in the new skill for practice.
    Motivation Responding to stimulus. Not knowing how to do it or how it works, just trying it.