MONTY PYTHON PRESENTS; THE LIFE OF BRAIN

MONTY PYTHON PRESENTS: THE LIFE OF BRAIN

What an interesting  introduction to the topic.  Dr Willis presented a basic overview of how the information gets into our brains and how we process it.  From reading other people's blogs I noticed that people discussed all the scientific terminology and how important it is in the classroom environment.  Some bloggers also discussed the need for ICT and the importance of it in the classroom.  I wish to take a different approach and start with the opening statement, isn't the human brain just amazing.

I am someone who has always been fascinated by the human brain as Dr Willis said, every single brain is different.  This is the main message I think teachers and future teachers need to understand.  Just because you may have written exercises for students to learn from, does not mean each student will learn from this.  Students could be visual or auditory learners.  Students may have a disability, students may process information differently than other people.  This is what makes our jobs as teachers difficult, because I understand how hard it must be to try and support each student equally using a creative display of teaching methods.  This video only shows some "theories" on how to motivate and support students by showing us the basic process of how the brain works.  Having discussions with a few class members and it would appear the general consensus that this video is amazing.  I have to disagree with this and play the devils' advocate by suggesting that the content was stimulating as it was for most people new content which our insightful brains gobbled up.  Hence people being excited by it, but if you strip all this away, this video shows how hard our jobs are as teachers.  An example of this can be shown by a class of 24 people, you have a class of 24 different brains which means potentially you can have 24 different styles of learning.  On the other hand I am not an entirely sinical, seeing results as a teacher as an amazing experience, seeing students progress shows that your teaching methods are working.  But what about the students who fall behind or do not progress at a level which makes you happy.  I have this conversations with many people across many different professions and some have said you cannot help everyone? But as teachers this statement must be hurtful.  It is interesting in a way because it makes you wonder have we failed them, or has there brains failed us.

Furthermore, to provide perspective on  the above paragraph so people do not think I am simply a pessimistic soul.  I work in disabilities, I work in boarding and I also have Asperggers.  As a support worker I work mainly with kids.  I am extremely creative when helping students with their homework.  I have one client who I incorporate a range of literacy and numeracy activities for when we have playtime.  As his imagination is utterly jaw dropping.  When we play games his brain takes him into a different world, sometimes he gets lost in his thoughts as his imaginations is sooo creative.  I have another client who I teach through a game called sim city.  He is grade 12 graphics student and loves to draw, using this game helps him see different aspects to graphics and potentially an end result.  These are two completely different people using two different methods to help them learn.  In the video it suggests that generally students generally struggle with the work if stressed etc.  however, I am  the opposite I work a lot better in stressful environment.  My point being is I think one of the key messages in that video was to know your students and how they learn.

Also, when Dr Willlis was implying that some behaviors perhaps stem from the flight or fight ability.  I think this is a bit far fetched as the situation she mentions do not really make sense with your brain being in survival mode.  For people who do not know the flight, fight and I think frozen theory, it is worth looking up.  But basically in a time of emergency or survival your body will either run away, fight, or be frozen still.  And we as people have no control over this.  It is quite incredible.  But in a school environment, these instincts are not needed as no student really is in survival mode as the decisions they made each day a conscious decisions. But that does bring us to the other issue of stress in students.  We all know schooling can be difficult and there is only so much control teachers have, but one analogy I have used is the one below to help students with their study.  

http://www.quora.com/Adel-Ansari/Posts/A-psychologist-walked-around-a-room-while-teaching-stress-management-to-an-audience-As-she-raised-a-glass-of-water        

But I enjoy both videos as they both suggest ways to help students learn, and that is why we are all here.  To learn as much knowledge as we can.   But I assume that we will learn a lot of teaching theories, but that is what they are, theories.  Suggestions to help us educate and support children.  The more knowledge we have, the more theories we will get and the better equipped we shall be as teachers.

to be continued.....