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Using Brain Research to Improve Learning

Using Brain Research to Improve Learning

Course Description

This course offers many different brain research-based strategies to help educators improve student learning.  The course also provides an understanding of the brain and how it works, especially while the brain is learning.  The basis of the course is developing an understanding of how the workings of the brain can help educators better their teaching.  The strategies offered help improve student memory as well as memory retrieval which therefore helps them learn.

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Course Numbers

  • Adams State: ED 589
  • UMass Global: EDDU 9608
  • CSU Pueblo: ED 501

 

Course Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

  • Students will learn and understand how the brain works while it is learning.
  • Students will learn different strategies of how to make better neural connections in the brain, how to transfer information from short-term to long-term memory, and how to retrieve those memories.
  • Students will be able to apply brain research to develop better teaching practices in order to improve student learning.
  • Students will develop skills to reflect on & improve their own teaching practices.

 

Relevancy to Practice: This course provides educators with the following relevant information to help improve their practice:

  • Understanding how the brain works, especially when learning new information, to become a more effective teacher for your students.
  • Improving student learning and memory through the use of brain-based practices.
  • Strategies for making stronger neural connections in the brain to improve the learning of your students.
  • Techniques and strategies for transferring information from short-term to long-term memory.
  • Captivating students’ attention, setting a positive emotional climate, and engaging all of the senses to enhance neural connections in the brain.
  • Strategies to reinforce information during a lesson as a way to avoid the pruning of brain cells.
  • Presenting content in different ways and making cross-curricular connections in order to help the brain make more memory pathways.
  • Giving students breaks during their learning as a way to support neural connections in the brain.

 

Course Assignments

  1. Reading & Video Reflection
  2. Pruning Reflection
  3. Final Reflection on Brain Research

Course Format 

This is an online course. Please use course materials emailed to you upon your original registration.

Brain Research – Syllabus

Course Description

This course offers many different brain research-based strategies to help educators improve student learning. The course also provides an understanding of the brain and how it works, especially while the brain is learning. The basis of the course is developing an understanding of how the workings of the brain can help educators better their teaching. The strategies offered help improve student memory as well as memory retrieval which therefore helps them learn.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will learn and understand how the brain works while it is learning.
  • Students will learn different strategies of how to make better neural connections in the brain, how to transfer information from short-term to long-term memory, and how to retrieve those memories.
  • Students will be able to apply brain research to develop better teaching practices in order to improve student learning.
  • Students will develop skills to reflect on & improve their own teaching practices

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

This course addresses the following student learning outcomes to the degree shown in the table. Degree Addressed is rated according to the following scale:

1=Basic, 2=Developing, 3=Proficient, 4=Advanced

Student Learning OutcomeDegree Addressed
1. Demonstrate growth in content knowledge related to teaching assignment and the application of content knowledge to classroom instruction and assessment.3
2. Understand scientifically-based practices in teaching and learning, including strategies in literacy education, instructional technology, differentiation of instruction, and apply them to raise student achievement.2
3. Demonstrate multiple means of assessing and evaluating student learning and use them to change teaching and learning.2
4. Locate, interpret, synthesize, and apply educational research in best practices in teaching.2
5. Understand models for professional change, including teacher collaboration, professional learning communities, strategies for mentoring and coaching to facilitate change, and effective professional development.1
6. Demonstrate understanding of reflective practice that results in improved classroom teaching and learning, including teacher reflection, use of technology in self-assessment, collaboration for change, and self-management of change.2
7. Demonstrate understanding of system and organizational change in education, including models for school change and current research and trends in school change.1
8. Demonstrate responsibility for student learning at high levels.3
9. Demonstrate responsibility for school reform and leadership in school change.1

Course Materials

Readings

  • Research-Based Strategies to Ignite Student Learning: Insights from a Neurologist and Classroom Teacher by Judy Willis, M.D. (pg. 1-105)
  • Brain-Based Learning: Teaching the Way Students Really Learn by Eric Jensen and Liesl McConchie. (pg. 1-193)
    *NOTE: These books will not be provided by Credits for Teachers or
    CSU Pueblo. Students will need to purchase these books. The price is
    not included in the purchase price of the course.

Video

  • Brain Based Learning (5:10)

Implementation

  • Semester Plan Template
  • Hour Log Template
  • Hour Log Example

*NOTE: The example is meant to act as a reference for what different entries could look like in the hour log assignment. Although this example relates to the Growth Mindset course, it is meant to be used as a model for what to include in the hour log assignment. Students are expected to include their own entries.

Course Evaluation Form

No-Risk Guarantee: You can cancel a course registration within 30-days and receive a 100% refund, no questions asked.

Registration Now Open: Register now and receive your course materials within 24 hours.  Course materials are due within 6 months of registering for the course.

Price:

Starting at $189.00

Credits:

3

Graduate Credits

*Pricing may not include University Fees. Select option to include fees.

University Fee

Course fee may or may not include the university’s registration fee depending on the university partner. University fees are not included in the registration fee for Adam’s State University and University of Massachusetts Global. 

Those additional fees are:
University of Massachusetts Global: $70/credit
Adam’s State University: $55/credit  

Instructions for how to register with your selected University Partner and pay additional fees will be provided after registering with Credits for Teachers.

University fees for Colorado State University Pueblo are included in the course fees. 

Please note that we cannot grant refunds for students who have already turned in work for a course, even if it is within the 30-day window.

Refunds Policy

Students are able to request a full refund of any Credits for Teachers course within 30 days of registration.  In order to do so, please fill out the “Contact Us” form including your full name and the course you registered for and we will complete the refund.

Exchange Policy

Students are able to exchange one course for another within 30 days of registration as long as the course price is the same and the student does not change the university Partner.  In order to exchange a course, please fill out the “Contact Us” form including your full name, course you have registered for and the course you would like to switch to.

Please note that we cannot exchange a course once for students who have already submitted their course for grading, even if it is within the 30-day window.

Transfer Policy

Students that would like to transfer their course from one university partner to another may have the opportunity to do so within the first 30 days of registering for a course.  In order to transfer your course to a different University Partner, please fill out the “Contact Us” form including your full name, the course you are currently registered for and the new University Partner you’d like to switch to.