Brain-based Online Learning/ Teaching (B.O.L.T.) 101 Part 1: Brain Wiring for Firing Dawn Giannoni, PhD Giannoni, D.L. The Online Learning Brain: Part 1 The Association for Brain Leadership

A neuron is a nerve cell. The brain is made up of approximately 100 billion neurons!!.

Neurons –aren’t they cute?..and those little reaching branches at the end of them are called dendrites …these are growing based on activity. … the activity “appears” as little flashes (like lightening BOLTS)...which are actually electro-chemical charges that shoot through synapses (at the end of the neuron). These “charges” arc over what is termed the synaptic cleft, and ultimately lead to changing the brain, creating increased neural communication pathways which end in more robust learning. Of course, this short explanation is a HUGE over-simplification… …. it is actually a very intricate process in which neurons communicate with each other through the synapses, but when they do, the transmission of chemicals called neurotransmitters (and there are both negative and positive electro-chemical neurotransmitters) actually influence the brain to either impede or to optimize learning.

The brain can continually “re-wire” itself (synaptic plasticity) as your neurons are firing and growing, new dendrites are growing and making new pathways! And so the brain actually changes structure, throughout our lives, as it LEARNS NEW Information

Novelty The Brain is Wired to Seek : Newness, Discovery, Adventure! Emotional Connection Memories and Learning Safety High Challenge /Low Threat Optimizing Learning Today we will just look at 3 facts we know are true about The Brain and Learning …and How To Optimize Learning for Ourselves and Our Students

It all comes down to communications! You communicate to brains; receptor brains (your students’ brains) begin to take that communication and their brains’ neurons then begin to communicate one to another taking the new information, and ultimately storing it. and these connections result in LEARNING Neurons communicate to each other through Electro-Chemical Firing……..at the synaptic cleft– the information arcs over this cleft and communicates new information…forms new pathways…through forming new dendrites (branches) also could be explained as “re-wiring” the brain to form new learning conduits.

When Neurons are rapidly firing – the BRAIN is wiring! 1)Challenge = GOOD! 2) Good Emotional Connection to combine with the learning event = GOOD! 3) Novelty –not just the information has to be new but the presentation… if novel… can produce a similar result! = GOOD! How to make learning NOT WORK… 1) Non-safety- and NO or low challenge = BAD 2) Emotionally BAD connection: stress/anxiety 3) BORING ( vs. Novelty) = BAD

1) Safety First: Creating a “Safe” Online Classroom or communicating a Sense of Security ***Low Threat / High Challenge*** Striking the Balance 2) Making Emotional Connections Online Positivity Connects Information to Memory Negativity Short Circuits Learning 3) Novelty: New Information Couched and/or Combined With Novel Approaches The Association for Brain Leadership, Inc. Anyone Remember the 3 Areas We Focused on Today??

Giannoni, D.L. The Online Learning Brain: Part 1 in a Series The Association for Brain Leadership