It s the perfect response to the unexpected presence of a saber-toothed tiger. But in school, that kind of response leads to problems. Rewards and motivation differ for each individual. In some cases, an individual may be more intrinsically or extrinsically motivated, but in either case the conditions and people in the environment facilitate the motivation to learn in the individual. At present, the rewards and motives of each individual person may be more environmentally determined than genetically determined.
Environmental factors make a difference.
These factors can help or hurt learning. Implications for High School and Community College For obvious reasons, educators are interested in all three interpretations related to brain-based research and cognitive science. However, sorting through the often conflicting information can be a challenge. Additionally, much of the information is general and more targeted at the lower grades. In order to better connect the research on teaching and learning in high schools and community colleges, and in particular, math and science education within these institutions, the idea to hold a conference on the research surfaced.