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Module 4: Cognitive Approaches to Equity and Diversity

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Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and linguistically Diverse Students: Chapters 1 and 3 of this text discusses how teachers are the biggest creators of the achievement gap among diverse learners. This achievement gap is identified as "an epidemic of dependent learners unprepared to do the higher order thinking, creative problem solving, and analytical reading and writing called for in the new Common Core State Standards" (Hammond, 2015). Essentially students of color, English language learners, and students of poverty lack the productive struggle that helps build our brain power and our ability to perform higher levels of thinking as educators are not setting the same standards for them as for others within the classroom. In turn this creates dependent learners unable to complete higher level thinking that involves complex tasks. Hammond proposes the solution to this "epidemic" is to educate tea...
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Module 2: Neurological Bases for Learning and Developmentally Appropriate Practice

Neuro Myths: Separating Fact and Fiction in Brain-Based Learning In the article Neuro Myths: Separating Fact and Fiction in Brain-Based Learning, Sara Bernard discuss how this popular learning trend is actually a risky move and is not based on neuroscience whatsoever (2010). Most products that claim to be neuroscience researched is a lie claims Bernard. Basically, if it claims to be brain researched "forget it!" (Bernard, 2001).  Busting Myths:  -Our brains are unchanging before we even start school.... FALSE! Our brain is ever changing and able to adapt throughout our lives. -People are either left-brained or right-brained...FALSE!  -We use only 10% of our brains...FALSE! Evidence shows most of the brain is active in a healthy brain. -Ages 0-3 are the most important learning ages...FALSE! Neuron connections are the greatest during this time, must published studies only prove this on rats, not humans! Reflection: I think as a teacher it is important...
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Module 1: Introducation to Learning Theory and Linda-Hammond Videos

Introduction to Learning Theory: The Learner: It is important to consider what the students need to learn (outcome), where they are academically (prior knowledge), and how to implement the lesson to meet the intended outcome-hands on activities, visuals, inquiry, multiple learning styles. The Learning Environment: It is important for the teacher to consider the learning environment by helping students feel a sense of community and understanding/awareness where students feel safe in their environment to share personal experiences with each other. The Process: It is important for the teacher to guide students throughout their learning by empowering students to engage strategies on their own (metacognition).  Interactions of Theories: It is important to motivate students and create a school culture that enables engagement of a broad spectrum of learning through the utilization of theories and methodology. Students who learn to think as experts are able to understand the big i...
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Module 1: "How people learn: Introduction to learning theory"

Sense the beginning of time people have sought to define the human mind and how it learns and develops. In the article, "How people learn: Introduction to theory," the authors share how centuries of inquiry of the learning process has lead us to where we are today. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle where the founding fathers of inquiring about the learning process. Their thoughts and ideas lead to centuries of philosophers trying to pin point exactly how we learn.  The twentieth century lead to proper schooling being more widespread. Researchers adopted the philosophers, Piaget and Vygotsky's view on learning by creating a balance between the two philosophers ideas by creating "child centered" schools. Following the development of established schools many new philosophers sought to better the educational ideologies. This includes philosopher John Dewey who believed that life and education should be intertwined by creating a child centered learning environment w...
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