The Human Brain and Learning. 17 Jan 2010

In an attempt to learn more about education and the function of the brain in the learning process, the following was revealed to me. The publisher of the journal Learning and Individual Differences, reveal their finding in an article on the 13^th of January 2010. The article stated “selection for cognitive skill acquisition depends on task demands and working memory capacity”.

The involvement of working memory capacity (WMC) in ruled-based cognitive skill acquisition is well-established, but the duration of its involvement and its role in learning strategy selection is less certain. (N=610) learned four logic rules, their corresponding symbols, or logic gates, and the appropriate input-output combinations in three-gate circuit patterns," investigators in the United States report. The team went on to practice 120 repetitions of each rule over the course of ten blocks. They found that the memory load varied between subjects. This study continues on but as Educators we must stay in flow with this type of information. In designing course material this becomes a major player. If I want to have the greatest impact I should design course with the students’ abilities at the forefront.

More research is being conducted at the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. Their studies have revealed some emerging theories about people learning. Their discoveries in neuroscience and continued developments in cognitive psychology have presented new ways of thinking about the brain, neurological structure and the attendant perceptions and emotions that contribute to learning. In other words how the brain works. We are cautioned that the brain is complex and there is still wide spread debate on these topics. Never the less this research has provided strong possibilities in education. As educator we should continue to follow these studies and improve our development in Instructional design.

The publisher of the journal Learning and Individual Differences can be contacted at: Elsevier Science BV, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Walden Library)

Caine, R. N., and G. Caine (1991). Making connections: Teaching and the human brain. Alexandria, VA (The Web; http://www.sedl.org/scimath/compass/v03n02/brain.html)