Summary:
Dr. Adam Cox brought the thought that effective teachers practice strategies and activities that fit students needs. He said instead of No CHILD Left Behind, it should read No MIND Left Behind. With his idea of executive function Dr. Cox relayed the importance of the 8 Pillars of a Young Capable Mind.
Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang taught us that your brain is ridiculously cool. Did you know that imagining is the main tool we used to recall things in our lives? Or how students feel in the hallways with their friends affects the learning they do in class and how they perform when asked to recall information? I remember that we as educators must activate imagination in students, because this stimulates emotion, which is embedded in all parts of the brain.
RISK - Robby Cramer said this is the biggest area that a teacher needs to pay attention to. Showing students it is ok to take them, take them yourself, and give feedback that is helpful when risks are taken. An environment that is safe to take risks is an environment that learns and grows from doing, making mistakes, and receiving feedback. The only way you can promote risk is by enriching your environment. Lots of movement, relationship building, and structured risk.
Ah ha's that have seen through the Institute:
• when explaining instructions create an auditory, visual and kinesthetic opportunity to accommodate all processing types.
• create opportunities for students to make predictions, receive nonjudgmental feedback, and time to process at the end of class, reflecting on their predictions and what they learned through the process.
• Students are constantly toggling between three areas at any given point: attention to environment, gathering information, and reflection.
Strategies that I now use because of MWBLI:
• reflection at the end of my classroom. No matter how big or small. Always having the habit of reflecting on what was accomplished and learned.
• pay attention to the students without science as the focus. Care about them and show them you are interested. This gives so many benefits when you want them to be with you as scientists and engineers.
• Choice activates student engagement and imagination, which activates brain grey matter.