Brain Learning Log

What?

Throughout the past two weeks in class we have covered the parts of the brain, their functions, and how those are related to teaching and education. Researching thirteen different parts of the brain, we discovered what part of the brain controls what and how it does it. I found the most interesting areas of the brain were the frontal lobe which controls our personality, our behaviors, memory, and problem solving. This area happens to be the last to fully develop in humans and that plays a significant role in the behaviors and decision making in young students in the secondary schools. Their brain isn't fulled developed until the ages of 25-35 years old. This could explain why students/youth make dumb decisions a lot of the time! :)

Although the Frontal Lobe is the primary part that controls problem solving and personality, it's important to understand that the brain all works together. No one part of the brain control something all by itself. Unlike popular myths about the brain, the brain actually uses 100% of its capacity at all times. As students' brains develop, during the adolescent years, students make judgments using their emotions rather than logic and that can explain certain behaviors.

So What?

I believe that this is an important topic to cover in Ed. Psych because it is the scientific explanation for student behavior. Although student's can not get away with poor behavior just because their brain hasn't fully developed, it is something that should be in the back of teachers minds to help stay patient and understanding of the students. The last thing you should do as a teacher and become so hard and unforgiving of students for their behaviors, however, without this knowledge it could be easy to become that way after become so frustrated in the classroom. This information will assist me in becoming a GREAT teacher because I will be able to better understand how students' brains work and be patient with them. No one is perfect and students make a lot of mistakes growing up. This bit of information will help me realize that it's not always the students fault for their behaviors...they are just underdeveloped! :)

Now What?

I think the most important information to take with me into the classroom. If I have students with special needs in my class, I can refer back to the information received about the different functions of the brain and hopefully be able to better understand their disability. Right now, there isn't any extra information that I'd need to research, however, it'll be important to keep posted on all the new research that comes up to always be educated on how the development of the brain effects learning so you can implement that into your classroom!