Essay - Recent Research About Brain Development Opens Up Tremendous Opportunities to...

Recent research about brain development opens up tremendous opportunities to improve education. In some aspects, the ***** community has embraced this ***** and used it ***** develop profoundly different approaches to learning. At ***** same time, the research conflicts with many systemic practices among school administrators and education policy-makers.

Five significant conclusions about the developing brain affect education. First, the capacity for lifelong ***** begins during "critical periods" (temporary windows of opportunity for development). Once a critic*****l period is over, it is too late to develop that part of ***** brain. Throughout, optimal learning occurs when the brain is appropriately challenged. Second, music and art help children develop brain functions related to logic/spatial abilities, illustrating that subject disciplines previously thought ***** be mutually exclusive are not. Third, emotions experienced while learning affect brain ***** for that particular type of knowledge. A more meaningful experience ***** which a student can identify results in more learning. Fourth, physical environmental factors affect students' ability to learn. Those who get regular ***** activity and adequate sleep based on their biological clock learn more. Finally and most importantly, each brain is unique, resulting from a combinati***** of ***** circuitry and a wealth ***** experiences ***** have shaped its development.

To be truly effective, the ***** system must address these findings. In many ways, educators and curriculum policy-makers have done so in their pedagogical techniques. Howard Gardener pioneered the *****ion of multiple intelligences, resulting in a movement towards project-based, h*****s-on *****ing experiences through many (if not all) of the nine intelligences to learn a concept or subject. Across the United States, elementary and secondary educators have incorporated th***** approach into their classrooms, *****ten along with the use of portfolios, project-based and cooperative learning. Ano*****r commonly used strategy, Whole Brain learning involves both the left (logical, linear, analytic) and right (emotional, creative, artistic) sides ***** the brain in the ***** to promote whole-***** development. ***** adopting ***** strategies, educators have addressed ***** brain uniqueness and making emotional connections. These strategies also allow students challenging projects that develop less-favored parts of ***** ***** ***** still allowing to succeed by demonstrating their strengths. Uniqueness ***** environmental ***** have been addressed through recognition of the elements ***** learning. Educators and school ***** are cognizant of ***** address the environmental, emotional, sociological, physiological and psychological stimuli (***** of *****) that affect student achievement.

Several aspects of education, however, require further reform to address this new *****. The age at ***** ***** subjects are introduced ***** not entirely consistent with the critical ***** of brain development (e.g., new languages should be introduced in ***** school). Interdisciplinary instruction is not systemically addressed, despite application ***** ***** intelligence theory in that subject disciplines are taught as silos -- ***** separately, instead of in an integrated fashion. ***** programs that have received cut backs in recent years (physical education, music, art) ***** those that are essential to brain ***** necessary for future learning in other, more traditionally valued ********** such as mathematics. More*****, regular physical