Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Technology Integration Video -- Big Thinkers: Judy Willis on the Science of Learning

Link to Video - Big Thinkers: Judy Willis on the Science of Learning


Judy Willis was a Neurologist for years and loved her medical practice until she realized there was a bigger need for her in the classroom. She had begun to get numerous teacher/school referrals for students who were believed to have various issues (OCD, Staring spells, ADD, etc.). Many of these students simply needed to be more involved in the classroom. She talks about the importance of keeping children interested in the classroom in order to steer clear of boredom. Sets help spark curiosity within the brain and allow students to prepare for what they are going to learn. Attention getters are a great way to make sure students are staying on task. Providing ample opportunities for participation is one of the most important things to remember when encouraging learning.


I agree with what Ms. Willis states throughout the video and her views on the importance of motivational and interesting learning experiences. I love her idea of using individual erasable pads or whiteboards to allow class participation without the fear of making a mistake in front of the whole class. She specifically states that 50% of the facts students are taught will somehow be modified by the time they leave (graduate). If this is so then why do we spend so much time memorizing facts when application is the true key? In order to be successful students will need a toolkit -- the executive functions! Preparing children for this can come from critical analysis, evaluation, risk assessment, and problem solving.
The most moving part of this video for me was the section when she compared/contrasted video games and classrooms. Video games give feedback and allow those players who are able to complete tasks to move up! Often times students are forced to keep doing things they already know only because they must stay with the rest of the class. Classroom models should compare to video games and differentiate instruction in order to allow each child to perform at their "achievable challenge level."


Overall, this is a great information video and very helpful for any educator!

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