Optimising, generalising and integrating educational practice using neuroscience

NPJ Science of Learning
Robert Colvin

Abstract

Practical collaboration at the intersection of education and neuroscience research is difficult because the combined discipline encompasses both the activity of microscopic neurons and the complex social interactions of teachers and students in a classroom. Taking a pragmatic view, this paper discusses three education objectives to which neuroscience can be effectively applied: optimising, generalising and integrating instructional techniques. These objectives are characterised by: (1) being of practical importance; (2) building on existing education and cognitive research; and (3) being infeasible to address based on behavioural experiments alone. The focus of the neuroscientific aspect of collaborative research should be on the activity of the brain before, during and after learning a task, as opposed to performance of a task. The objectives are informed by literature that highlights possible pitfalls with educational neuroscience research, and are described with respect to the static and dynamic aspects of brain physiology that can be measured by current technology.

References

Apr 15, 1991·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M MurphyP F Bartlett
Feb 27, 2003·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Elise TempleJohn D E Gabrieli
Mar 2, 2006·Psychological Science·Henry L Roediger, Jeffrey D Karpicke
Apr 12, 2006·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Usha Goswami
May 25, 2006·Psychological Bulletin·Nicholas J CepedaDoug Rohrer
Jul 23, 2008·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·Daniel T Willingham
Jul 18, 2009·Science·Andrew N MeltzoffTerrence J Sejnowski
Aug 14, 2009·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Atsuko TakashimaGuillén Fernández
May 28, 2011·Science·Brian ButterworthDiana Laurillard
Jul 7, 2011·Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS·Gordon Winocur, Morris Moscovitch
Aug 28, 2012·Neuron·Daniel E Feldman
Apr 12, 2013·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Jana VukovicPerry F Bartlett

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 1, 2019·Journal of Neural Engineering·Yannick RoyJocelyn Faubert
Dec 18, 2018·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·Tehila NugielJessica A Church
Aug 21, 2021·Trends in Neuroscience and Education·Adam John Privitera

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.