Sara Tinney

This topic was based upon Adolescence: Canadian Edition chapter three (pp. 75-107). This chapter is all about cognitive changes in adolescents. Some important theorists from the chapter are Vygotsky, Piaget, Fischer, Binet, Sternberg, Gardner, and Keating. The other important resource for this topic is the Brain Rules.

 

The 12 Brain Rules are:

1.  SURVIVAL: The human brain evolved, too.

2.  EXERCISE: Exercise boosts brain power.

3.  SLEEP: Sleep well, think well.

4.  STRESS: Stressed brains don't learn the same way.

5.  WIRING: Every brain is wired differently.

6.  ATTENTION: We don't pay attention to boring things.

7.  MEMORY: Repeat to remember.

8.  SENSORY INTEGRATION: Stimulate more of the senses.

9.  VISION: Vision trumps all other senses.

10.  MUSIC: Study or listen to boost cognition.

11.  GENDER: Male and female brains are different.

12.  EXPLORATION: We are powerful and natural explorers.

 

All twelve rules are important and have significant implications for teaching and learning. For the purpose of this reflection, I will focus on Attention. An active classroom is more engaging and interesting for learners as the focus moves away from content memorization and the traditional lecture style. Active classrooms are more hands on, discover-based, project-based, and interest-based. This means students are able to explore, create, and discover, which leads to more effective and long-term learning. I will use projects, portfolios and discovery/investigation opportunities to capture, maintain, and expand my student’s attention. Based on the attention rule, I will strive to keep the memorization, strictly information, and other less active/engaged portions of my lessons under ten minutes.