Brain - Based Education

Essay
Education has been subjected to studies throughout years due to its vital importance and influence over people’s formation, and also in societies’ development. For that reason, for the last 20 years, some scientists have suggested the possible relation about a Brain- Based Education. In other words, Jensen (2008) says: “… the brain is intimately involved in and connected with everything educators and students do at school.” (p.1). It means that teaching and learning process are affected by brain function. It is the reason why many different scientists have been working so hard to look for more evidences about it.
Nevertheless, as any study, the Brain- Based Education has had its critics, according to Jensen (2008), Bruer and others critics say that many educators consider it was very difficult to understand how our brain works, because they were not capable of understanding it. In addition to that, neuroscience has nothing to offer and they should ignore the brain research and continue their path. It shows that they simply belong to another scientific academy and are not open to recognize and accept other new theories and paradigms, which could be improve and enhance the quality of education.
On the other hand, despite this, Jensen (2008), says: “…brain-based education has withstood the test of time, and an accumulating body of empirical and experiential evidence confirms the validity of the new model.” (p. 1). In the same order of ideas, advocators such as Jensen and others have focused their studies and researches about the connection existing between brain function and educational practice, but which should be buttressed by other disciplines such as neuroscience, psychology, sociology, psychiatry, nutrition, cognitive and others. All this implicates the broader scope of brain-based education like a multidisciplinary knowledge which should be used and taken advantage of by the educators.
In fact, it´s very important that each educator knows that brain-based education means “everything we do uses our brain” because the brain is involved in and connected with everything teachers and students do at school. Then, if the teacher ignores how the student brain works, he or she will risk student success. Therefore, according to Jensen (2008): “Brain-based education is best understood in three words: engagement, strategies and principles… is the "engagement of strategies based on principles derived from an understanding of the brain." (p. 1) In other words, teacher should know why they do what they do; they should have an answer as to why one strategy is used instead of another; because different scientists could help educators to know more about the brain and its implication and applications; but they couldn´t teach educators which classroom strategies work best for their students. It should be observed, analyzed, practiced and evaluated by teachers who are always interacting with their students and have the opportunity to see their behaviors.
The author says that schools present countless opportunities to affect students´ brains; and such issues exercise, nutrition, stress, social conditions and environments are all relevant because all of them affect cognition, attention, discipline, classroom, attendance, and memory. Also, teachers should know and consider that the human brain can and does grow new neurons (neurogenesis); and that new neurons are highly correlated with memory, mood, and learning, and which can be regulated by everyday behaviors. Specifically, it can be enhanced by exercise, lower levels of stress, and good nutrition.
Consequently, educators have a wider array of topics to consider during teaching and learning process, which can be buttressed in the brain-based education, and where teachers can make choices in how they prioritize policies and strategies.
Meanwhile, some researchers claim that physical activity helps the brain developing itself in a positive way; through the process of neurogenesis (production of new brain cells), this process, according to Shors et al (2001) “… is correlated with improved learning and memory.” This means that students may develop new skills by the means of exercise, which can also help against depression because of the production of endorphins. These techniques are very suitable, especially for teenagers, who seem to be more prone to depression.
Another problem related with brain-based education is that any new theory that comes out is immediately met with denial and opposition (Kuhn, 1970). Many great theories are discarded because many scholars will just settle with old techniques and paradigms instead of being creative and spending resources in new theories. Scholars need to learn that no theory is 100 % accurate nor will it solve all our problems, and that sometimes it is good to stand out for their ideas instead of just being part of the group.
Added to this, is the fact that brain-based education is merely a new area with little research fields. But nowadays there are more open-minded researchers and teachers who will allow brain-based education in the classrooms. There are special journals and scientific magazines dedicated to this new area of research.
In conclusion, although brain-based research and education is a very innovative strategy, it must be remembered that it will not solve all the problems related to learning problems. Just as Jensen (2007) expresses: “Brain-based education is not a panacea or magic bullet to solve all of education´s problems. Anyone who claims that is misleading people”. It may be still new, but as all new things it will be accepted sooner or later by critics and opponents; it just takes time to be completely understood and accepted.
The current model of brain-based education is highly interdisciplinary; and scientists know that today brain-based education cannot be founded on neuroscience; they have learned that it requires a multidisciplinary approach.


BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
•Jensen, E (2008) A Fresh Look at Brain Based Education. Phi Delta Kappan, v89 n6 p408-417. Phi Delta Kappa International. California, USA.