How the Brain Learns

How the Brain Learns

After 15 years of teaching, I find difficulty articulating why some students grasp abstract mathematical concepts while others struggle to understand the simplest concepts.

What I do know is that emotion can play a significant role in memory. Dr. Wolfe talks about emotion impeding or enhancing memory and I have found that there is some credibility in this theory.
When I teach a lesson with humor or as my colleagues call it, attics, students remember more and tell their parents everything that happened in class. On the other hand, when I lecture, students seem to be comatose and remember almost nothing.

Mathematics does require Procedural Memory to comprehend the methods needed to solve word problems.  For years I have argued with colleagues that rote memory is still necessary for learning math, while others steadfastly argue that rote memory is no longer a part of learning. Dr. Wolfe makes a point about rote memory in that practice makes permanent. For example, memorizing the multiplication table requires rote memory.

Teaching with visual aids is an excellent method of keeping students’ attention and engaging them in question and answer secessions’.

According to ScienceDaily (Oct.20, 2000) “Neuroscientists also theorize that higher forms of learning occur in the cerebral cortex. Evidence from the study supports that theory. “
Teachers need to understand how the brain works to better serve their students.