Eight Strategies for Implementing Brain-Based Learning with Examples
Brain-based learning is an educational framework that considers the latest findings in neuroscience about how the brain learns best. Marian Diamond’s research on enriched environments demonstrated that external stimuli significantly impact brain development. This translates to creating spaces in classrooms where students feel mentally stimulated and emotionally safe. Eric Jensen, in his book Teaching with the Brain in Mind, emphasized that effective learning environments support the brain’s ability to absorb and retain information.
A classroom that supports brain-based learning is one where teaching strategies encourage active engagement, meaningful connections, and emotional involvement. In fact, this approach prioritizes holistic strategies that cater to students’ cognitive and emotional needs unlike traditional rote learning methods.
Brain-based learning has emerged as a revolutionary approach to education. It stems from neuroscience research and highlights how educators can influence the brain’s natural processes to maximize learning potential.
Brain-Based Learning (BBL) is recognized as a foundational theory that embodies a holistic paradigm, integrating developmental, socio-cultural, and other expansive perspectives into teaching and learning (Caine & Caine, 1995). It emphasizes aligning instructional design with the natural processes and functions of the human brain, creating a pathway for meaningful and impactful learning experiences (Duman, 2010).
BBL delves into specific processes that shape how learners engage, including the dynamics of motivation, the mechanisms of attention, the formation of memories, the acquisition of conceptual knowledge, and the effective presentation of information. These elements form the core of teaching and learning, highlighting the intricate relationship between cognitive processes and educational practices (Shukla, 2019).
Historically, teaching and learning practices have been guided by the beliefs, experiences, and logical reasoning of students, educators, and policymakers. These perspectives, coupled with experimental insights, have illuminated the path of education. However, when instructional methods are informed by an understanding of brain faculties and cognitive functions, the outcomes are transformative. Such an approach fosters deeper, more effective learning, allowing students to engage comprehensively with knowledge and skills in a manner that resonates with their innate cognitive potential (Shukla, 2019).
Creating an Enriched Environment
An enriched classroom environment stimulates multiple senses, encourages curiosity, and promotes engagement. Marian Diamond’s experiments with rats highlighted that enriched environments lead to increased synaptic connections, which are the building blocks of learning. Similarly, in classrooms, educators should include vibrant visuals, thought-provoking questions, and hands-on materials to make lessons more dynamic.
The science teachers can incorporate models, videos, and live experiments to make abstract concepts tangible. Classrooms should also provide diverse seating arrangements and quiet corners, allowing students to learn comfortably. Incorporating greenery, soft lighting, and calming colors can further enhance the environment, as suggested by research from John Medina, author of Brain Rules.
Enriched Learning Environment: Creating Stimulating Spaces
Situation: A middle school science class struggling to grasp abstract concepts like the water cycle.
Strategy: Create a multisensory classroom environment that supports exploration and engagement.
Example & Illustration:
The teacher decorates the classroom with posters illustrating evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, alongside 3D models of clouds. Students watch a short video showing real-life examples of the water cycle, then engage in an experiment where they heat water, observe steam, and simulate rainfall using a covered glass bowl.
Why It Works: Marian Diamond’s research shows enriched environments develop neural growth, and such sensory-rich experiences help embed knowledge in long-term memory.
Engaging Emotions to Enhance Learning
Emotions play a pivotal role in memory and learning. Eric Jensen explains that when students experience positive emotions, their brains release dopamine, which enhances attention and retention. Educators can tap into this by fostering a supportive and inclusive classroom culture.
Storytelling is a powerful tool in this regard i.e. history lessons presented as narratives rather than a list of dates and events help students emotionally connect with the material. Teachers can also celebrate student achievements, encouraging positive reinforcement. This creates a sense of belonging and motivation, essential for effective learning.
Engaging Emotions: Storytelling for Connection
Situation: A history lesson on the French Revolution fails to resonate with students.
Strategy: Use storytelling to emotionally engage students and make historical events relatable.
Example & Illustration:
The teacher introduces a fictional character, Pierre, a baker’s son, who describes his struggles during the famine. The story highlights Pierre’s role in storming the Bastille, expressing his hopes and fears. Students then create their own diary entries as citizens of revolutionary France, describing their experiences.
Why It Works: Eric Jensen highlights how emotions enhance memory retention. Students relate to the material, making it more meaningful by connecting emotionally.
Integrating Physical Movement
Research shows that movement enhances brain activity. According to John Ratey, author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, improving concentration and cognitive function. Teachers can incorporate movement into lessons through simple activities like role-plays, group discussions, or even stretching exercises between sessions.
The younger student’s brain breaks with quick games or rhythmic clapping which can re-energize their minds. Activities such as walking debates or project-based learning that involves physical interaction can be highly effective for older students. These strategies help students process information more efficiently while breaking the monotony of static learning.
Physical Movement: Enhancing Retention Through Activity
Situation: An elementary math class finds it hard to memorize multiplication tables.
Strategy: Incorporate physical activity to boost cognitive engagement.
Example & Illustration:
The teacher organizes a multiplication relay race. Each team solves a problem, then passes the baton to the next student, who answers the next. The class concludes with a game of hopscotch where each step corresponds to a multiple of a given number to reinforce learning.
Why It Works: John Ratey’s research shows that physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, enhancing focus and memory. Movement energizes students while anchoring learning in enjoyable experiences.
Encouraging Active Learning
Active learning engages students in higher-order thinking tasks, such as analysis, evaluation, and problem-solving. Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences emphasizes the need to cater to different learning styles, such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Teachers can design lessons that incorporate group discussions, hands-on projects, and visual aids to cater to diverse intelligences.
Students can use manipulatives to understand abstract concepts in mathematics, instead of solving problems on paper alone. Science experiments, art integration, and interactive storytelling are other techniques that promote active engagement.
Active Learning: Problem-Solving for Real-World Applications
Situation: A high school environmental science class is studying waste management.
Strategy: Use project-based learning to apply theoretical knowledge.
Example & Illustration:
Students work in teams to audit waste generated in the school. They identify areas for improvement, such as reducing single-use plastics, and present solutions to the school administration. Their proposals include implementing composting bins and organizing awareness campaigns.
Why It Works: David Kolb’s experiential learning model emphasizes learning through doing. Applying concepts to real-world problems deepens understanding and develops critical thinking.
Building Strong Connections
The brain thrives on connections—both cognitive and social. Building connections between new and existing knowledge helps students retain information better. Eric Jensen suggests starting lessons with a review of prior knowledge and then gradually introducing new concepts.
Social connections also play a critical role. Collaborative activities, group projects, and peer teaching create an environment of shared learning. This not only enhances comprehension but also builds social skills. Cooperative learning strategies, as discussed by Robert Slavin in Cooperative Learning: Theory, Research, and Practice, demonstrate that students perform better when they work together toward shared goals.
Building Strong Connections
Situation: A middle school teacher wants to improve student engagement and comprehension in a geography lesson on ecosystems.
Strategy: Develop meaningful connections between existing knowledge, new concepts, and real-life experiences to reinforce understanding.
Example & Illustration:
The teacher asks students about their favorite outdoor locations, such as a beach, forest, or park before introducing ecosystems. Each student shares observations about plants, animals, and weather in these places. The teacher then connects these experiences to the concept of ecosystems by classifying them into types (e.g., tropical forests, deserts, or marine ecosystems). Finally, students create dioramas representing ecosystems they relate to or have visited.
Why It Works:
According to James Zull’s work on brain-based learning, building connections between prior knowledge and new learning activates neural networks, making new information easier to retain. Real-life experiences anchor abstract concepts in students’ minds.
Using Music and the Arts
Music and the arts are powerful tools for brain-based learning. Research by Frances Rauscher and Gordon Shaw on the “Mozart Effect” suggests that music can improve spatial-temporal reasoning. Teachers can incorporate background music during tasks, use songs to teach concepts, or integrate art projects to deepen understanding i.e. using music to memorize mathematical formulas or creating artistic posters to summarize lessons in social sciences are creative ways to engage both the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
Music and Arts Integration: Engaging Multiple Intelligences
Situation: An English literature class struggles with understanding Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Strategy: Integrate music and arts to make the content more accessible and engaging.
Example & Illustration:
The teacher assigns groups to create artistic interpretations of key scenes. One group composes a song summarizing the play’s central themes, another performs a short drama, and a third illustrates key events through a storyboard. The class concludes with a gallery walk to share their creations.
Why It Works: Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences supports diverse learning modalities. Incorporating music and art taps into creative intelligences, making content more relatable and memorable.
Prioritizing Rest and Recovery
The brain needs rest to process and store information. Research by Matthew Walker, author of Why We Sleep, highlights the critical role of sleep in learning and memory consolidation. Teachers can support this by scheduling breaks during the school day and avoiding cognitive overload.
Short meditation or mindfulness sessions can help students relax and refocus. Teaching students about the importance of sleep and its impact on their learning can empower them to make healthier lifestyle choices.
Prioritizing Rest and Recovery
Situation: A high school preparing students for exams notices signs of burnout and reduced performance during intensive study periods.
Strategy: Incorporate brain breaks, sleep education, and relaxation techniques to improve focus and cognitive function.
Example & Illustration:
The teacher introduces a study schedule that includes 20-minute breaks after every 90-minute session. During these breaks, students practice mindfulness, such as deep breathing or light stretching. The teacher also conducts a session on the importance of sleep for memory consolidation, referencing Matthew Walker’s findings on sleep science. Students are encouraged to maintain consistent sleep schedules, particularly before exams.
Why It Works:
Research by the National Sleep Foundation shows that rest is critical for memory consolidation and learning. Rest and recovery prevent mental fatigue, enhance focus, and increase retention, allowing students to absorb and process information effectively.
Incorporating Real-World Applications
Learning becomes more meaningful when students see its relevance to their lives. Problem-based learning, where students work on real-world challenges, is an effective brain-based strategy i.e. students learning about environmental conservation can engage in projects like designing eco-friendly school initiatives or conducting community awareness campaigns.
This approach promotes critical thinking and deepens understanding by connecting theoretical knowledge with practical experiences. David Kolb’s experiential learning model emphasizes this idea, advocating for learning through reflection on doing.
Incorporating Real-World Applications
Situation: An elementary mathematics teacher finds that students struggle to grasp fractions and their relevance.
Strategy: Use practical activities that connect abstract mathematical concepts to everyday life.
Example & Illustration:
The teacher organizes a “Fraction Feast” where students divide pizzas, cakes, and sandwiches into portions. Each student calculates fractions based on how many pieces they take and share with classmates. To deepen understanding, the teacher assigns a homework project where students create a recipe requiring fractional measurements for ingredients.
Why It Works:
According to David Kolb’s experiential learning theory, real-world applications bridge the gap between theory and practice. Hands-on activities help students visualize and internalize abstract concepts, increasing both comprehension and interest.
Challenges in Implementing Brain-Based Learning
While brain-based learning offers numerous benefits, it also presents challenges. Teachers may require additional training to understand neuroscience principles and apply them effectively. Limited resources and large class sizes can further complicate implementation.
However, it is possible with institutional support, professional development programs, and collaboration among educators. Schools should invest in resources that facilitate brain-based strategies, such as flexible seating, technology integration, and teacher training workshops.
Conclusion
Brain-based learning is not a fleeting educational trend but a science-backed approach that addresses the core of how humans learn. In deed the educators can unlock the full potential of their students by creating enriched environments, engaging emotions, integrating movement, encouraging active learning, and connecting lessons to real-world applications. The insights from pioneers like Eric Jensen, Marian Diamond, and Howard Gardner remind us that education is most effective when it respects the natural processes of the brain.
I firmly believe that the essence of teaching lies in adaptability, creativity, and empathy. The classroom should not merely be a place of instruction but a space where students are inspired to explore, question, and grow.
References
- Jensen, Eric. Brain-Based Learning: The New Science of Teaching and Training. Corwin Press, 2008.
- Diamond, Marian. Magic Trees of the Mind: How to Nurture Your Child’s Intelligence, Creativity, and Healthy Emotions from Birth Through Adolescence. Dutton, 1998.
- Gardner, Howard. Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Basic Books, 1983.
- Ratey, John. Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. Little, Brown and Company, 2008.
- Medina, John. Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. Pear Press, 2008.
- Slavin, Robert. Cooperative Learning: Theory, Research, and Practice. Allyn & Bacon, 1995.
- Walker, Matthew. Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. Scribner, 2017.
- Kolb, David. Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. Prentice Hall, 1984.
Resources and Learning Resources Web-links