7 Brain-Based Learning Methods And Effective Study Skills
The Indian education system has slowly, but surely, progressed from the passive chalk-talk method to a more immersive and experiential learning format. This transition has allowed us to implement years of scientific findings from neuroscientists and cognitive-behavioural psychologists about how we learn, remember and retain information.
Contemporary research suggests that brain-based learning methods and study skills make learning enjoyable and effective. Here are a few of these methods and skills for educators and students to implement:
1. Take “brain breaks”: Long lectures without pauses are detrimental to a learning environment. The human brain’s ability to concentrate and remember concepts declines rapidly after 10-12 minutes, and thus requires short breaks with “tools for engagement” to keep the students attentive to the incoming information.
2. Learn in multiple ways: When we learn in multiple ways, the memory pathways of the brain become more efficient as the gray matter and white matter of the brain thickens and make nerve signal transmissions faster. This helps us build stronger neural connections and thus, remember better.
3. Welcome your students: While it may seem simplistic, welcoming your students at the door every morning sets a positive approach to the classroom, builds a sense of community, and sets the tone for the day, making young minds more receptive to learning.
4. Early to bed: “Early to bed, early to rise, makes us healthy, wealthy and wise!” This holds true even today; however, let us tweak it a little bit- “early to bed, without any electronic device, makes our brain healthy and wise!” When students sleep for 8 to 10 hours and are separated from their electronic devices 2 hours before bed, their cognitive function improves and allows for memory to get embedded.
5. Encourage students to “explain it in their own words”: When teachers ask students to explain what they understand of a concept, their brain works in multiple ways to describe and elaborate the information. This also leads to rehearsal, which is a key element of memory acquisition. When a student can describe his/her understanding in their own words, it reinforces learning as well as reassures the teacher of her effectiveness of information delivery.
6. Step out of the classroom: This is not simply limited to experiential and immersive learning for the sciences outside the classroom. When we step out into outdoor spaces and nature, we allow our brains to oxygenate and refresh for further acquisition of knowledge.
7. Multidimensional learning: Incorporate different mediums in the teaching process, such as music, art, dance, visual aids, drama, and more to strengthen neural pathways and enhance brain-based learning. Using learning aids and effective note-taking skills can help students excel in their performance both in the classroom as well as in examinations.
Our knowledge of the brain’s potential encourages us to modify and evolve our classrooms and teaching strategies to ensure we are able to optimise learning and engagement in our students. Let us come together as educators and implement the most effective brain-based learning methods and transform the way we perceive education in our country.
