Brain Based Learning in the Digital Age

Brain Based Learning in the Digital Age

First of all, what is brain based learning? According to Eric Jensen, brain based learning is, “purposeful engagement of strategies that apply to how our brain works in the context of education” (1). Put in layman’s terms, the brain is involved in everything, and connected to the teachers and the students at school. Brain based education is based upon engaging the students and creating strategies to carry out those engaging lessons (Jensen 1). One of the easiest ways to engage students in this day and age is through technology, and there are many ways to use technology to the benefit of a brain based education in academia. Because the basis of this concept is that our brains are ever evolving day in and day out, readjusting the mind to the digital age is not quite as difficult as one would think!

One way to bring technology into brain based learning is through using graphic organizers. As noted by Marilee Sprenger, graphic organizers are a creative way of visual learning because they allow the students to make artistic and creative choices, as well as become tools in a student’s procedural memory (28, 30). Making graphics helps the students to recall similarities and differences in content, harking back to previously discussed materials. This gives them the ability to make deciphering remarks and comments on not only computer based materials but concrete materials outside of technology. Graphic organizers also aid in relational memory (Sprenger 31). Relating information from the Internet allows the student to personally become acquainted with the subject matter and the content being taught in class. Each child is different. Giving them choices on what part of the information to use will show insight into how he or she thinks and compartmentalizes data.  This will help the teacher and the other students in understanding that particular child's motivations.The more teachers relate to their students, the easier it will be to create a bond in the classroom over the content.

Social interaction is also a way to bring brain based learning into the classroom. This can be done easily with technology as well. The students could use technology to do some discovery on the Internet, or within social media, and then they could teach the other students or the teacher a new aspect of the content in question. Sprenger says that discovery is important because it allows them to learn something new all on their own and share it with their peers and educators (48). She also notes that they are teachers as well as learners due to this influx of information (Sprenger 48). Another way to build social interaction on the Web that translates into the classroom is to have the students write their own blogs that can be read by their classmates and by people all over the world. With this, they can receive feedback from all fronts. This feedback lets the child feel needed and emotionally secure in the classroom and in the world (Sprenger 58). Social media also gives the opportunity to kids to teach kids in the digital realm, like how to interact with websites or how to improve and use Twitter or Tumblr to their advantage.

Being that there are different learning styles, there are different ways to use technology for each one too. For example, the auditory learner can use audio conferencing with the Internet or listen to music on an iPad or iPhone for concentration. The visual learner can use videos on websites or make movies about the content using a tablet to help with his or her application. Kinesthetic learners may be attracted to the buttons on a keyboard that lead to a search function bringing the information to light or a quiz that involves touching and tapping the screen.

Works Cited

 Jensen, Eric. "Brain-Based Learning Strategies." FEAweb. Florida Education Association, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2014. <http://feaweb.org/brain-based-learning-strategies>.

 Sprenger, Marilee. "Brain Based Teaching in the Digital Age." ASCD, 2010. Web. 18 Apr. 2014. <file:///C:/Users/Meghan/Downloads/BrainBased%20Teaching%20in%20the%20Digital%20Age%20(1).pdf>.