How Can We Optimize Learning? by Karisa Bibayoff (Sixth Grade Teacher)

California along with other states across the country finally has adopted new, modernized science standards: Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). I've been updating my curriculum and classroom practices as a result of these new standards that are designed to mesh well with CCSS's emphasis on critical thinking.

One standard that I am especially excited about is "Gather and synthesize information that sensory receptors respond to stimuli by sending messages to the brain for immediate behavior or storage as memories." (MS-LS1-8) This standard is exciting to me because it gives students the opportunity to learn about the brain and how they learn. Like all good PBL, it lends itself to the "real world" very well with connections to students' everyday life. On the first day of our studies, we close-read an article, What you should know about your brain, together by Judy Willis, a neurologist turned classroom teacher. Students were asked to find specific strategies that Willis claims helps memory storage. For example, we learned that students could help information travel past the R.A.S. (reticular activating system) by doing things like making sure they have had enough sleep and reviewing information in a fun way such as while throwing all ball with friends. The article was packed with information about the parts of the brain connected with memory storage and ideas to more effectively use these systems. 

This was the perfect jumping off point for an investigation focusing on the driving question: How can we optimize our learning? Working in small teams, students each developed a testable question. Here are some they chose:

• Does tossing a ball during review affect test performance?
• Will getting less sleep negatively affect your scores?
• Will visualizing a peaceful atmosphere help improve students' memory?

Students had a week to collect data. Then, we shared findings in class, presenting mini-conference style with one member from each group staying back at a Chromebook to present a slideshow to students from other teams. During a reflection on Schoology after, I asked students about the experience. Here are some responses to one of the questions, What is the most important thing you learned from our studies about the brain? Here are some responses:

• "The most important thing I learned was to stay healthy and to remain calm. Also, that you CAN get smarter."
• "I think the most important thing that I learned is that the more you take care of you brain the more you will succeed."
• "In this unit I have learned so much on how to help my brain do better in school and while doing other activities as well. I think one of the most important things learned in this unit was how to help it do better. While learning the anatomy about the brain was interesting and all, I think that most of us will use the findings from the brain investigations in real life to give us an advantage in school and life. This was a very cool and interesting mini-unit."