Session+3+Nov.+10,+2016

= Meeting the Needs of All Learners: Brain-Based Learning =

Assignments between November session and Winter "Zoom" meeting:
Between November 10 and January 26, 2017. (between sessions 3 and 4)

a. at least seven vocabulary terms/ concepts that we've talked about in class b. at least three vocabulary terms/ concepts that we have NOT yet discussed in class (The focus of this website is on Alzheimer's Disease. The Interactive Brain Tour contains 16 slides. Slides 1-7 contain general information about the brain, and slides 8-16 give specific- and very interesting- information about Alzheimer's Disease.) (The Thinking Business is an organization that focuses on the development of creative thinking, creative problem solving and mind mapping. One of the features on their website is an interactive tour of the brain.) (This resource for learning about the brain is part of the PBS- Public Broadcasting System- website. It includes not only an interactive tour of the brain, but also an interactive timeline re: Brain History, a section on Mind Illusions, a section that explains various brain imaging technologies, as well as links to five "episodes" that detail brain development from the infants' brain, to the teenage brain, to the aging brain.) We'll talk about these three websites- what you found that was familiar- and what you found that was new- when we meet again via Zoom in January.
 * 1) 1 Over the next several months, please explore the following three websites. Each provides an interactive tour of the brain. Use your exploration to refresh your memory about some of the information covered in class during Sessions 1, 2, and 3. I suggest exploring one of these sites in November, another in December, and the third one in January. This type of "distributed practice" will help you to remember/ relearn/ and retain the information about brain structures and functions. As you're exploring, note the following:
 * [|Inside the Brain: An Interactive Tour]
 * [|The Thinking Business: Brain Zone]
 * [|The Secret Life of the Brain: 3-D Brain Anatomy]


 * 1) 2 Also, continue working on the following "standing" assignments. (These are not new- but are ongoing)


 * **Continue reading **** your self-selected brain book  and when finished, post your reflection to the "Book Reflection" page of the Wiki. (This doesn't actually need to be completed until our final session in April... but winter is a great time to curl up with a good (brain) book! When you're so, so busy next spring, you'll be glad that you did! **


 * **Continue watching for **** and listening for the Brain in the News!  Now that you've been learning about it, you'll find that articles and programs about the brain are EVERYWHERE! Clip out articles, or jot down a few notes about what you see. When we meet via Zoom in late January, we'll spend some time talking about what you've found. This "watching" for the Brain in the News will keep the information you've learned thus far alive and well, and possibly even growing! Here's the deal: When it comes to ANY new learning... if you don't USE it, you'll LOSE it! And... just thinking about the brain by watching, listening, and reading... is a form of elaborative rehearsal that will cause you to retain more of what you've learned. (We'll talk more about elaborative rehearsal in February!) **


 * **Review the parameters for the Sampling Assignment that are posted on the Wiki page of the same name. Design and implement your sampling trial, and then post your description and thoughts regarding how it went on the Sampling Wiki page. Again, this assignment isn't actually due until the final class session in April, but so that you'll have adequate time to think through exactly how you want to implement the sampling strategy with your students... and so that you'll have time to run it for several weeks- or even months- you'll want to get started on this sooner rather than later. **


 * **Review the parameters for the Final Project  posted on the Wiki page of the same name. Begin thinking about how- on our April 6 Showcase day- you will articulate your understanding of "brain-compatible instructional practices." **