Learners who struggle with a subject may find it easier 45 minutes later. The brain needs time to process any explicit new learning and students need a 2-10 minute rest period after each learning session. Other brain-compatible learning activities include instilling a sense of movement in the process, discovering patterns, adding a touch of novelty, reviewing and repeating, and changing seating to encourage fresh perspective. Many college classes seem to abandon these teaching strategies in favor of a neutral colored room with all chairs in a row facing an instructor who is delivering information. Current research on the brain does not support this.
Scientists conduct the research.
What we as educators do with this information is crucial. Kathleen Hudson knows about the power of stories and music. She teaches writing, mythology and literature at Schreiner and is director of the Texas Heritage Music Foundation. She also employs a program called The Past is Prologue, which uses the Native American learning story as a way to teach.