Offered:
Summer Session II - June 22 – July 20, 2012

$427.50 for participants from member or affiliate schools
$475 for all other participants

Brain-based education is a method of instruction that considers how the brain learns naturally and is based on current research on the structure and function of the human brain from neuroscience, biology, and psychology.  Today’s understanding of the brain challenges many of the concepts about teaching and learning that have served as pillars of educational thought in the past.  Recent neuroscience discoveries about the human brain offer amazing potential for changing the way we approach education.

This course will focus on educational techniques that are brain friendly.  Participants will consider the roles of emotions, music, learning styles, multi-tasking, nutrition, exercise, memory, and stress on learning.  Approximately two related topics will be covered per week as participants learn about brain research in each of the areas addressed and strategize to create brain-based activities for the upcoming school year.   The focus for this course will be to address the specific needs of girls in these areas as we offer practical, effective, and cutting-edge teaching strategies.

Teachers with all levels of experience will benefit from this course by learning more about how girls learn and changing the paradigm about how teachers teach. New teachers, teachers who are new to independent schools, teachers who are new to girls’ schools, and veteran teachers alike will enjoy the weekly collaboration of approximately 4 hours per week and the exploration and application of brain-compatible teaching and learning practices.

What course participants have said about the course

I really enjoyed this course and I am leaving it armed with lots of new strategies and ideas that I will put to work in the coming school year! - Educator from Dallas, Texas

The instructors of this course provided us with a wealth of information that was exciting and interesting. They were passionate about the topic, and that made me more passionate about the topic. I also really enjoyed experiencing this type of online class, especially because I have students who are going to have had similar experiences with online classes; this gives me the ability to relate to those students. – Educator from Los Angeles, California

Taking this course really helped me to see how stagnant the education models were that I grew up with. I think I would have learned a lot more and been a better student if my instructors in school taught from brain based philosophy. This research is so important to the students we teach and important to convey to other faculty and parents. This course addresses the findings on the ever changing teenage brain and some really important aspects such as sleep, nutrition, and movement. – Educator from Nashville, Tennessee