Principles of neuroeducation: A brain-based approach to effective learning
At the intersection of neuroscience and education lies an interdisciplinary field called neuroeducation, whose principles and evidence-based insights have the power to reshape teaching and learning. This domain aims to explore and understand the fundamental mechanisms that govern the human brain and in turn dominate the learning process to inform better pedagogical approaches, instructional methodologies, educational policies and ultimately individual learning habits.
Discover the concept and principles of neuroeducation – the blend of neuroscience, education and educational psychology – that equips teachers, eLearning professionals and learners everywhere with a brain-compatible approach to improve outcomes and take the next step in their personal and professional development. Let's learn how to learn.
When neuroscience and education align: the concept of neuroeducation
Although the concept of neuroeducation has steadily gained importance in academic discourse over the past few decades, the idea behind it has been around since the mid-19th century, when the study of senses was in its infancy. Although research on the brain has advanced tremendously today, this organ continues to confuse us. Only in recent decades have some common misconceptions about this been debunked, even though many of them had some basis in truth. For example, we don't only use 10% of our brains. [1]
Because educators have also fallen prey to many of these so-called neuromyths, this emerging but long-standing field will remain relevant—and for good reason. Neuroeducation aims to provide a range of tools to help us better understand how our brains work within learning environments, using research and principles from the diverse fields of neuroscience and integrating them into an educational context. It explains how individuals extract, process, and make inferences from their environment. Through neuroeducation we can learn how our brains process stimuli, how they retain information and even how emotions can positively or negatively influence the learning process.
Recognizing the value of this science is the next step toward more versatile, equitable educational spaces that provide targeted interventions to improve learning and teaching approaches. Neuroeducation promotes robust pedagogical practices, allowing teachers to adapt their approaches based on the latest discoveries. This adaptability enables active, experiential, and multimodal learning experiences that take into account the diverse needs and preferences of students and ensure that everyone can participate in a way that works for them.
The main principles of neuroeducation
As mentioned above, neuroeducation views neuroscientific discoveries, principles, and insights through an educational lens. But what does it actually advocate? Let's look at its main principles.
1. Individual characteristics and differences
This neuroeducation principle recognizes the cognitive uniqueness of each student and emphasizes the diverse learning needs and preferences that teachers may encounter in a learning environment. Taking these individual cognitive characteristics into account can better inform instructional practices, allowing teachers to tailor curricula and introduce diverse learning modalities to meet a diverse group of learners.
2. Brain plasticity
Brain plasticity refers to the brain's incredible ability to reshape itself throughout an individual's life in response to different learning experiences. Essentially, learning changes the physiology of the brain, causing it to actively adapt to the stimuli presented through neurogenesis. Due to its plasticity, the brain creates and reorganizes neuronal connections, facilitating recall and consolidation of memories while absorbing new data. As such, pedagogical practices must provide students with enriching and adaptive learning experiences that harness the brain's malleability and promote ongoing neurogenesis.
3. Memory systems
Memory systems include all memory-related processes, from formation to consolidation. Such phases are an integral part of the learning process as they enable students to decode, encode, retain and retrieve knowledge effectively. Ensuring efficient memory systems in students means providing sufficient opportunities for repetition, retrieval and association to occur unhindered, both inside and outside the learning environment.
4. Attention and focus
It is possible to improve focus in learning environments through neuroeducation-based techniques. Since memory retention is highly dependent on attention, implementing measures that strengthen memory abilities and focus students' attention on elements that can be linked to personal experiences is a good way to start. The use of different sensory channels through multimodal instruction techniques enriches the learning journey, transforming it from rote learning to a more participatory experience that harnesses the learner's curiosity and attention.
5. Emotion and learning
The impact of emotion on cognitive processes, including mnemonics or other learning-related processes, requires the creation of supportive spaces that increase engagement, motivation, creativity and retention. Positive associations with the learning process allow students to better utilize their innate curiosity and interest, encouraging progress toward mastery. On the contrary, associations with negative emotions, such as fear or anxiety, hinder learning and slow down skill. In particular, addressing stressors that can undermine cognitive performance while cultivating students' emotional intelligence yields significantly better results.
6. Metacognition
Have you ever started thinking about thinking? This process is called metacognition and defines our ability to monitor our own cognitive processes. It is considered by many in academia to be a central aspect of human cognition. Developing metacognition in a classroom encourages students to purposefully become active participants in their own learning journey. Reflection and self-reflection create opportunities for better critical thinking and increase self-awareness, problem solving, and other essential thinking skills.
7. Feedback
Constructive feedback is very important in guiding students towards metacognitive reflection. It is a critical factor in student success and a cornerstone for cultivating a lifelong thirst for knowledge and growth beyond formal education. Effectively using feedback to provide actionable, specific, and targeted insights into student progress streamlines improvement and advances learning goals.
The brain is a road map
Uniting neuroscience and education creates opportunities to explore uncharted territories and establish evidence-based practices to promote better learning and teaching practices. The core point of neuroeducation is following the path our brains have laid out for us, rather than continually pursuing outdated learning practices that focus on generic, one-size-fits-all approaches. It's time to decipher another of the brain's many secrets and discover the key that will help us nurture our abilities and fuel our growth.
References
[1] The persistence of neuromyths in the educational environment: a systematic review