{"id":47861,"date":"2024-10-01T00:04:31","date_gmt":"2024-10-01T00:04:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gsgf.greenschoolsgreenfuture.org\/?p=47861"},"modified":"2025-01-18T20:20:01","modified_gmt":"2025-01-18T20:20:01","slug":"the-brain-and-hands-on-learning-debunking-myths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gsgf.greenschoolsgreenfuture.org\/fr\/the-brain-and-hands-on-learning-debunking-myths\/","title":{"rendered":"The Brain and Hands-On Learning: Debunking Myths"},"content":{"rendered":"
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5 Debunked Brain Myths and 1 that Needs to be Debunked<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Recent breakthroughs in neuroscience have\u00a0debunked several myths about the brain and learning. Here are five beliefs that are now proven wrong:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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  1. Fixed Brain Capacity<\/strong>: It was once believed that the brain’s capabilities and intelligence were fixed and unchangeable after a certain age. In 1987,\u00a0 I was given a book when my first son was born that said I had three years to prepare his brain for learning before his learning capacity would steadily decrease for the rest of his life. Fortunately, neuroscience has shown that the brain is highly plastic throughout life, meaning it can reorganize itself by forming new neural connections in response to learning and experience. Phew!<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. We Only Use 10% of Our Brain:<\/strong>\u00a0This common myth suggests that 90% of the brain is inactive. In reality, neuroimaging shows that almost all parts of the brain have a known function and are active at various times. What is true about using our brain, however, is that we lose what we don\u2019t use. Lifelong learning keeps us sharp, especially when we seek out new topics and ways of learning.<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Critical Periods Limit Learning<\/strong>: While early childhood is a crucial time for developing certain skills, the concept of an immutable “critical period” after which learning becomes impossible is outdated. Adults can also learn new skills and languages, although it might require more effort and different strategies. My oldest student to date was 77 years old, and three years later he still loves impressing people with his alphabet superpowers.<\/li>\r\n \t
  4. Learning Styles are Fixed<\/strong>: The idea that people learn best through a single mode of learning, such as visual, auditory, or kinesthetic, is overly simplistic. Research suggests that effective learning depends more on the nature of the material being learned and less on an individual\u2019s preferred learning style. Studies show that benefits from hands-on learning include increased engagement and retention ability for all learners.<\/li>\r\n \t
  5. Intelligence is Solely Inherited:<\/strong>\u00a0While genetics play a role in cognitive abilities, intelligence is highly influenced by the environment. Educational experiences, nutrition, and interaction with others all play significant roles in cognitive development and can greatly enhance intellectual capacities.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n \r\n

    The past 20 years have been groundbreaking and the potential for new approaches to learning differences is ripe with possibility. Where to begin?<\/p>\r\n

    Not so fast. I have another myth to bust and this one is not on anyone\u2019s radar yet. This one appears to be about literacy, but the implications reach far beyond reading and writing.<\/p>\r\n

    Ready for it?<\/p>\r\n \r\n

    Myth 6:<\/strong>\u00a0Learning the alphabet by looking at 2D letters or playing with magnetic or sandpaper letters provides an adequate foundation for all learners<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

    Truth:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    The way we teach the alphabet is stunting our collective human creativity given what neuroscience has shown about the way neurons communicate, have unlimited growth potential and benefit from\u00a0<\/em>engaging more of the brain through active, multisensory learning.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\r\n

    Woah, what?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    Here\u2019s my thought process:<\/p>\r\n

    Engaging students in active learning techniques has been linked to a variety of positive outcomes, such as deeper understanding, increased motivation, and better retention of information. Plus<\/p>\r\n\r\n