Same - Different

• (MI p. 8.44) Display old/modern toys – list sims/differences

• Biggest change is in technology

The adolescent brain

• The neurons in a child’s brain make many more connections than those in adults’ brains

• Information is entering the brain through windows that open and close at various times (image from sousa)

• The richer the environment, the greater the number of interconnections that are made – consequently, learning takes place faster and with greater meaning.

The Adolescent Brain

• Is used to greater variety of stimulation

• Responds quickly to novelty

• Demands relevance

• Practices ‘continuous partial attention’

• Has a smaller working memory

• Has an immature frontal lobe but mature emotional response – responds instinctively.

Jot thoughts slide:

Half groups: what are the implications of the adolescent brain for teaching and learning?

Other half: How well do we currently cater for this?

Is sense and meaning present?

Yes Moderate to High

Very high

No Very low Moderate to high

No Yes

Is m

ean

ing

pre

sen

t?

Is sense present?

A model of how the brain works

Find someone who . . .

• Try to find someone who can answer one of the questions in a box. The person who answers the question initials the box.

• No one can initial the same sheet twice.

• The object is to get a bingo pattern – horizontally, vertically or diagonally