Brain Compatible Learning

by Dr. Pauline Stonehouse and Roxann Sorenson

The session sponsored by the network this year, The Brain, Learning, and the Arts, used the plays of William Shakespeare  as a stepping-off point for a 90 minute workshop attended by 50 conference participants. Taking a page from The Book of Play by Nils Lou, we got everyone on their feet with “The Breath of Fire” exercise, encouraging movement and deep breathing with vocalization.  With brains oxygenated, we were ready to think about the implications of recent neuroeducation research before embarking on a practical clay workshop: Steppin’ Out With Shakespeare.

Delegates are shown working on clay models of shoes designed to represent  a character in one of Shakespeare’s plays . These were knowledgeable participants! One man chose a character from The Winter’s Tale and made a cowboy boot for the rogue Autolycus. 

 Many chose to design a shoe for Titania, the fairy queen from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  A mathematician, from the Philippines, made a boot for Romeo using binary numbers as part of the decoration.  He became very excited about how he could use the arts in his presentations, actually standing up and making dance movements to imitate geometry. Another participant made a shoe, complete with a human skull, to represent one of the grave-diggers from Hamlet.

Follow-up: It would be fun to continue the discussion and maintain the social links established during the session. Do you have a photo of your shoe to share? How have you applied what you learned? What more can we do to promote brain-based learning and the arts? Tell us about the arts integration in your school, district, or college.

 Session Resources:

• The Brain, Learning, and the Arts Bibliography PDF 
• PowerPoint Presentation The Brain, Learning, and the Arts

With the introduction of ASCD’s new social networking platform, ASCD EDge, ASCD leaders have access to new opportunities to connect, share information, and engage with fellow leaders, members, and colleagues within the ASCD community. Go to  http://ascdedge.ascd.org  to get started by creating your own free profile page. You will be able to network and share with other colleagues interested in brain-based learning by joining the Brain-Compatible Learning and How the Brain Learns social networking groups.

ASCD Networks are now ASCD Professional Interest Communities (PICs)

As a result of this policy change, The Brain Compatible Learning Network will be known as The Brain Compatible Learning Professional Interest Community.

A intriguing recent two page document describes the actual behavioral outcomes of empowerment competencies. An example of a competency area: Self Awareness divided into Emotional awareness; Accurate Self-assessment and Self-confidence. Here’s how Self-confidence is described : A strong sense of one’s self-worth and capabilities. Here are the behaviors:

1. Present myself with self-assurance: have “presence”
2. Can voice views that are unpopular and go out on a limb for what is right
3. Decisive, able to make sound decisions despite uncertainties and pressures

Self-regulation, Self-motivation, Empathy, and Social skills are other competence areas. The attached chart Empowerment is from Twin Cities Rise, Empowerment Division which works with low income people on the premise that these competencies underlie success. These competencies are foundational for all ages!