1. Getting Students to Use Their Brains TLC Webinar 2015 Brenda Mattison Tri-County Technical College, Pendleton, SC Tracie Miller-Nobles, CPA Austin Community College, Austin, TX

3. What is NOT in today’s session Scientific explanations of how the brain works What IS in today’s session: Research findings related to how the brain learns Some sample activities Suggestions for teachers Suggestions for students Getting Students to Use Their Brains

5. 3 Brain Rules to Remember Rule #4 – Attention We don’t pay attention to boring things. Rule #5 – Short-term Memory Repeat to Remember Rule #6 – Long-term Memory Remember to Repeat

6. Hydration Exercise Oxygen Nutrition More fruits and vegetables, less junk food Sleep Optimizes the consolidation of newly acquired information in memory People who nap after learning a new task remember it better than those who don’t 5 Things the Brain Needs

7. The Most Important? Exercise! How can we increase our students’ movement while learning? 5 Things the Brain Needs

8. Q1: What are the five things that the brain needs? A. Exercise, Oxygen, Caffeine, Sleep, Hydration B. Sleep, Hydration, Nutrition, Accounting, Oxygen C. Hydration, Exercise, Oxygen, Nutrition, Sleep D. Oxygen, Sleep, Laughter, Hydration, Nutrition

9. Left….Left….Left, Right, Left…. Debit….Debit….Debit, Credit, Debit… Let’s March!

10. If you have a card with a(an): – Asset account, go to the Left side of the room – Liability account, go to the Middle of the room – Equity account, go to the Right side of the room If you have a card with a: – Permanent account, go to the Left side of the room – Temporary account, go to the Right side of the room Index Cards

11. Classified Balance Sheet Exercise – If you have a card with and Asset account, go to the Front of the room – Line up in order (left to right) as the accounts would appear on a classified balance sheet Human Bank Reconciliation – Create cards that have reconciling items, have students put cards in correct order Index Cards

12. Rule #4 - Attention So how do we get their attention? Create interest Using alerts Emotions

13. Q2: What are some ways you get your students’ attention? (Select all that apply) a. Tell a funny story b. Say, “This is going to be on the test!” c. Have them work in teams d. Share a news article that relates to the topic e. Show a video that relates to the topic

14. The 10-minute Lecture Outline 1 st – Explain the lecture plan at the beginning, with liberal repetitions of “where we are” 2 nd – Cover a single core concept 3 rd – Bait the hook! Tell a relevant story Show a relevant video Do a relevant activity

15. The Brain Needs a Break “They (teachers) seemed to forget that the information was brand new to us, and that we (students) needed the time to digest it, which meant a need for consistent breaks.”

16. Multitasking Do you multitask? Are you good at it? Do your students multitask? Are they good at it?

18. “Studies show that a person who is interrupted takes 50% longer to accomplish a task.”

19. And…. Makes more than 50% more errors!

20. Rule #5 – Short-term Memory

21. People usually forget 90% of what they learn in class within 30 days. The majority of this forgetting occurs within the first few hours after class. Hermann Ebbinghaus

22. We can increase the life span of a memory by repeating the information in timed intervals!

24. Q3: What is the best way that we can increase the life span of a memory? a. Repeat the information right before the exam b. Take study breaks often c. Meditate d. Repeat the information in timed intervals

25. Our senses work together, not in isolation Teaching to All the Senses

26. Audio/visual Integrate images Use interactive websites How to present information using multiple senses:

27. “Memory is enhanced by creating associations between concepts.”

28. 13276796753 Memorize the numbers:

30. 13276796753 1(327)679–6753 Memorize the numbers:

31. Do You See the Pattern? NRANBCCMTFBICBS

32. Do You See the Pattern?

33. Teach students to look for patterns Use demonstrations that reveal how course material is ordered and organized Patterns

34. Statement of Cash Flows (reversed alphabetical) Operating Activities Investing Activities Financing Activities Depreciation rules Alphabetical Order & Mnemonics Straight–Line Subtract Salvage Value Double–Declining Balance Don’t

35. How does the transaction affect the financial statements? What can we do to increase the current ratio? Types of transactions Cause and Effect Assets=Claims ++ –– +/–

36. Explaining concepts in their own language helps students retain information One reason study groups are so effective Own Language

37. Rule #6 – Long-term Memory What you learn in first grade is not completely formed until your sophomore year in high school! Re-exposure to the basic facts is important! The more detailed elaboration the better Thinking or talking about the information enhances long-term memory Spaced intervals over a longer period of time are better “If you have only 1 week to study, and only 10 times to hit the subject, it is better to space out the 10 times than to squeeze them all together.”

38. Blocking – information is stored but cannot be retrieved (test anxiety) Misattribution – memory is attributed to wrong situation or source (taking several similar courses) Transience – memory is lost over time Stress – inhibits learning and memory Why Students Forget:

39. Teach students to space their practice Cumulative tests and/or homework Have students spend time in reflection During class After exams Ask students to explain what they have learned in their own words Use as much visualization as possible Teaching for Long-Term Recall

40. Testing The context of the study environment should match the context of the testing environment. Using the same environment, memory could improve by as much as 40%!

41. 1. Focus – no multitasking 2. Don’t cram 3. Structure and organize information 4. Mnemonic devices can help 5. Elaborate and rehearse information 6. Relate new information to prior knowledge 7. Visualize concepts 8. Teach new concepts to another person 9. Pay extra attention to information in the middle of class 10. Vary your study routine Study Suggestions for Students

43. Brenda Mattison Tri-County Technical College bmattiso@tctc.edu Thank you! Tracie Miller-Nobles, CPA Austin Community College tracie.nobles@gmail.com