Quick and Dirty Accelerated Learning

Introduction

One of the best things the brain does is learn! Unfortunately, in general, humans under utilize their capabilities by limiting the modes and methods by which knowledge is presented. If one is in the business of teaching in any form, there are techniques that can help “kick it up” and make learning more effective—and more fun. This quick and dirty breakdown will provide basic information on methods used to create powerful, accelerated learning.

Background

When looking at the way teachers and parents approach learning with very young children, it is easy to see the abundance of sensory experiences. Walk into any preschool or kindergarten classroom and there is color, novelty, music, motion and tactile experience associated with the learning. The brain’s potential is maximized during this brief moment of life. As the learner approaches middle school, the learning experience takes a turn toward highly imposed structure (thinking inside the box), becomes “gray” and mundane, tends to focus on one or two sensory pathways and has limited motion and tactile experience. Restrained learning begins to “starve” the brain and “keep it in the dark,” working against learning. Put these two pictures beside each other, the average preschool or kindergarten classroom and the average high school classroom. No wonder the teenager looks so bored!

Research

Brain research, over the last 15 years, supports the kindergarten classroom experience as the most conducive to accelerated learning. The brain learns in the same way throughout the human life span. The brain does not suddenly dislike color, motion and sound. Teachers and children are “taught” that the orderly, quiet, “sit up straight in your chair” environment is the best. Science tells us it is not.

Learning Facts

The following are facts about how the brain learns, extracted from brain research studies: