Being Social: Tapping into the social student brain

http://d3ct8f39dj9jhs.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/braaaaain.jpg

http://vmwebapp.com/images/social.jpeg

This is the second part of my 2 part blog post on the book Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect by Matthew D. Lieberman. I have been reading this book as part of a book study for a group called HDIL (How Do I Learn) which has been examining and helping teachers learn to apply the latest in brain research/science to education. I forgot to mention that in my earlier post. Working with the group of Health Educators, Instructional coaches, fellow teachers, and Neuroscience researchers  has been exciting and rewarding both on a personal and professional level. It has expanded my thoughts on improving how I educate our young learners and that is the focus on this post is how I feel we can improve schools to leverage the power of our social brains.

The research that the author presents and has done is pretty clear that humans are social creatures and our brains have developed to leverage being social to help us survive and grow. He has shown that our social nature can have both positive and negative affects on our brain and on us as well. When we act in a way that is socially acceptable or are given positive social attention from our peers there is activity in the parts of our brain that allow us to experience pleasure and dopamine release. When we act ina way that is not socially acceptable or are given negative social attention from our peers the converse is also true, we experience pain and those regions of the brain associated with feeling pain light up. That is as technical as I want to get as the importance is more on how to leverage the social brain to improve education an student learning.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7e/DarienCTMiddlesexMSch07222007.JPG/1200px-DarienCTMiddlesexMSch07222007.JPG

Students start out their educational career as one class and move through the early years as part of a class/tribe/family if you will. They get to know their teachers, and peers and learn their habits and quirks. Then in Middle school/Junior high we thrust them into a situation where they are in a new building, multiple classes, new school, many more peers, & HORMONES!

https://fmidr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/hormones.jpg

All of this leads to a sense of no longer belonging when in actuality their brains are craving to just belong. We need to change the way we educate to better take advantage of this craving so we are not fighting it.

As we explore the future of schools and work to change them to meet the needs of the future; we need to accept the fact that just giving students knowledge to remember for later on is no longer acceptable. We need to look at how to teach students how to use that knowledge as well as how to interact with one another. As a CTE (Career and Technical Education) teacher I get to meet with industry professionals to learn more about what I can be doing to prep kids for the "real world" (as I like to call it). The number one thing they mention to me is to help kids develop "soft skills"; those skills like reading people, working together, showing up on time, etc. These are not skills we have necessarily focused in schools but should do more of as we move into the future. Some may say that isn't the job of education but it is all of our jobs. One these "soft skills" is self control.

http://wp.production.patheos.com/blogs/epiphenom/files/2014/12/Self_control.jpg

Self control is a skill that is important to have not only to help keep us safe but also to help us be more productive in our careers. I see kids in my class that I wish had more self control or patience. I have wondered why they don't have any and hope they get it later. However I now realize it is part of our job to help teach them self control what it looks like and how it works. Along with that we need to give them opportunities to practice using it and not fault them when they fall down or don't use it. I don't know what this looks like quite but I can see it coming into play during project work, and maybe as a part of grading. This leads to another thought we can as educators need to focus on which is helping kids belong.

Another way I feel we can help students belong is to look at ways to co-mingle the curriculum at the middle level. I am not saying need need to go to a more elementary model of 1 teacher who teaches all subjects but more of a co-teaching approach bringing teachers together (having teachers move from class to class rather than students). Where students are exposed to all subjects by multiple teachers in the same class. This I feel will help them see how knowledge is not a singular subject but is interwoven and social. Also it helps give the context of why they need to know this stuff in order to apply it.

http://vcvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/education-study-books-pile-college-textbooks-18182270.jpg

One of the things talked about in the education chapter is that we crave the"why" of knowledge not necessarily the what or how. I know I have seen and see the power of this in my class all the time. I teacher a number of elective classes from robotics to programming to engineering and most kids excel on concepts they struggle with in other classes. One example I am proud of and use all the time is teaching cross multiplication as a function of calculation turns. Our math department struggled with teaching this concept to students especially some of our Special education students. They wondered why I never struggled with it or why kids in my class "got it" I told them I put it into context. They needed to know ratios and cross multiplication to figure out the arc length (which couldn't be "measured" easily) to get their robot to turn a specific angle. Yes they did struggle with it for awhile but once they had the why they needed it OMG! they took off and had it down pat. We need to look for more opportunities to give students a chance to learn and apply the why they are learning things and we will be amazed at how much they will gain in the end.

Lastly I would like to talk about how students show those gains teachers favorite TESTING!

http://edsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/testing-stock-1203x800.jpg

I know there are numerous thoughts and feelings about testing from high stakes to quizzes. I have my own personal thoughts which I won't get into other than to say we need to rethink how we empower kids to share their knowledge and understanding. I am a PBL (project based learning) teacher and there by most of my "tests" are projects rooted in real life applications. However I recognize that at times there has be be a test given for various reasons. I know the stress of giving tests from having administered several tests over my career, both kids and teacher stress. I wonder though if we made one simple change if it might alleviate some of that stress. That one change is to let kids talk during the test. I know this goes against all the "rules" and "norms" of testing but why? When asked that question I am told so they don't cheat. I accepted that answer early in my career but as I got more into reading books on PBL education, talking to employers, and stressing out while giving tests I rethought that reason. If we are social creatures we need to communicate in some way shape or form. To ask us to be silent for any great length of time goes against our nature. Also where in our jobs, other than teaching, do we need to "test" to get paid? Yes I know we need to test to get various certificates/qualifications for a job but not once we get the job. We get paid by doing our job and being productive. Often times we have to work with others to get the job done. So why not start teaching that during school. Why can't we allow students to talk while testing? I know most will say but how will students show what they know. Well they will show it by the questions they ask others and the explanations they give to others. Also sharing of info is part of what is needed in the workforce; know when and what info to share. Also if we train them to share info correctly (not just giving the answer) they cheating won't be an issue.

These are my thoughts on how to apply the concepts and ideas posed in the book. I welcome your thoughts and ideas as well as encourage you to read the book.

As always Go Forth & Do Great Things!