How Teachers Can Help Students Improve

Brain Research

Understanding the human brain and how it functions helps to better understand which teaching approaches can be most effective. Four major findings from neuroscience, namely neuroplasticity, the importance of early experiences, the role of emotions in learning, and the effect of exercise on the brain, provide insight into how educators can use learning environments and strategies to best facilitate student achievement.

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to make new neural connections throughout a person’s life (Mundkur, 2005). It challenges the traditional idea of a person having fixed intelligence. Instead, it suggests that students' brains can change and adapt as they absorb new information. In the classroom, this means that every student has the potential for growth, improvement, and success. The brain is more like a muscle than a sponge—so the more it is exercised, the more connections it is able to make, and that means the intelligence of the student can improve. This is a major breakthrough in brain research. It is something that teachers can leverage. They can use this understanding by emphasizing a growth mindset in their classrooms, emphasizing the value of effort and persistence, and insisting on diverse learning experiences that stimulate different areas of the brain.

This research also goes along with the findings on early experiences in shaping the brain's wiring. Research shows that positive early experiences, such as exposure to a rich vocabulary, can enhance brain development (Kolb et al., 2017). Conversely, negative experiences, like neglect or abuse, can hinder it. This finding shows the importance of providing supportive and enriching environments in the early years of education. Teachers can contribute to this by creating inclusive classrooms that stimulate curiosity, and thus get students stated with a strong foundation for future learning.