We compete with digital media in the classroom. It's unfair really. Twenty, thirty years ago, it was bad enough competing against television and movies. Now, we have an abundance of media, whether that's five hundred channels, Youtube, and a gaming console or perhaps a game of Second Life. And yet, here we are in the classroom, facing a lack of attention. As Dr. Medina sites in his work, vision trumps all other senses. Thus, we have to provide students with stimulating images that relate to the content we're delivering. On top of that, we need to know how the brain works, specifically how it behaves when it comes to attention.
Ten minutes is the magic number, then you need to provide the hook or emotion response that keeps the audience going. Now that's one thing say with a 50 min. presentation. It's a totally different scenario when it's a 90 minute reading block . . . or is it?
That's what we intend to find out. Those staff that signed up for full implementation will be getting their books soon and we'll be delving into Brain Rule #4. I'll be the first one to take this plunge. In early February, I'll be teaching a 5th grade class for a week, specifically math. I'm going to record the lessons and analyze them. The reason I want to be so reflective is so I can see what happens when I structure and plan the lesson based on Dr. Medina's model presented in Brain Rules. It's obviously worked for him at the college level. What about the elementary level with instructional materials? Hmm.
I undoubtedly will fall on my face for a couple of reasons. A) I'm out of practice. Sad really. In the principal chair you see lots of great pedagogy, but rarely do you get to keep your own skills up to snuff. I'll be a bit rusty. B) This structure is new to me and keeping track and making sure that I'm on target with the BR model will be taxing at first, I think.
Beginning in February, we're going to be studying Brain Rules more in depth and begin the planning process of what it could possibly look like next year in select classrooms. One of our first grade teachers is doing her doctoral dissertation on what we'll be trying to do. Should be a great ride.
