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Duration
2 weeksWeekly study
8 hours
The Science Behind Learning
Discover how the brain develops and the power of the unconscious in learning
In this course, you will have the opportunity to study the science of memory: its capacity, why knowledge is still important, and how memories are made, before exploring the implications of this neuroscience on classroom practice.
There will be the chance to look at the brain in action and how it develops over a lifetime, what eureka moments are, and how they relate to problem-solving activities.
What we now know about the power of the unconscious mind and how we can employ this in classroom activities will also be explored. You will then have the chance to apply your learning to a case study.
What topics will you cover?
- Week 1: Memory and the Brain in Action
- Memory – short term, long term and working memory
- The importance of memory
- How memories are made
- The formation of neural pathways
- The importance of habituation
- Memory – implications for teachers
- Eureka moments
- Week 2: The Developing Brain and the Power of the Unconscious
- Problem solving – analytical vs divergent thinking
- The unconscious mind and cognitive processing
- How to generate eureka moments to encourage insight and creativity
- The developing brain - Infancy, Childhood, Adolescence (self-consciousness, peer pressure), Adulthood
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Investigate what recent research on the physiology, structure and formation of the human brain tells us.
- Evaluate the impact of research on human memory on classroom practice.
- Understand what eureka moments are and how they are triggered, and interpret this information in terms of its value in the organisation of tasks and classroom practice.
- Reflect on students’ own processes for solving problems and evaluate these insights in terms of our ability to respond to analytical or divergent tasks.
- Differentiate between conscious and unconscious cognitive processes and evaluate the power of the unconscious in problem-solving processes in the classroom environment.
- Understand the way in which the human brain develops over time and evaluate the impact of development and environmental influences on classroom practice.
- Apply learning about the development of a child’s brain in a school-based case study.
Who is the course for?
This course is for students of the MA Educational Leadership.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn