Educational Neuroscience Flashcards
Educational Neuroscience Definition
Interdisciplinary research field that translates neural findings into learning and education policies
Whats the type of relationship between nsci and education?
BILATERAL!
- one affects the other
- can also be direct and indirect
Direct relationship between NSCI and ED
Brain is a biological machine, NSCI tells u what the optimal conditions for ED are
Indirect relationship between NSCI and ED
NSCI explains the underlying mental processes that facilitate EDU
Visible Impacts of learning
- behavioural performance
- grades
Invisible Impacts of Learning
psychological and physiological adaptations driving learning
(also potential for learning, evolution, genetics, epigenetics, nature/nurture)
Why should we know about our brains when learning?
- Enhances self-awareness
- Increases ownership during learning process
- Allows us to explore and adapt to our preferences
Challenges in applying NSCI [5]
- Measurement –> hard to measure educational outcomes
- Scalability –> hard to apply to all students
- Communication –> neuroscientists and teachers don’t talk
- Myths
- Resources
Name of Intrinsic Brain Activation
Default Mode Network (DMN)
Name of Extrinsic Brain Activation
Executive Control Network (CEN)
DMN Functions
- Self-reflection
- Mind-wandering
- Social cognition
- Internally driven
- Active during rest
- Important for creativity, cognition, wellbeing etc
Bio location of DMN
- Medially ~ Around middle of the brain
(medial frontal lobe, posterior medial regions etc)
CEN Functions
- Task-driven
- Goal oriented
- Executive functioning
- External attention
- Decision making
Bio location of CEN
- More on the outside of the brain
(largely lateral prefrontal cortex and executive functions)
How do we juggle CEN and DMN?
- Anti-correlation (seesaw)
- We switch between the quickly, which enhances our brain efficiency
Metacognition Definition
Ability to monitor and control one’s cognitive processes
Metacognitive Knowledge Definition
Neural Basis of Introspective judgement’s of one’s cognitions
Is metacognition domain based?
Initially very localized byt later becomes domain independent as we neuroplasticize our brains.
When do we start to get metacognitive knowledge?
Around age 5
Meta-control Definition
Neural basis of higher-order functions that monitor and control lower cognitive processes as they happen
[Ex, executive functions]
When does meta-control start to develop?
Around age 8
Online meta-knowledge
Awareness of our cognitive process while actively engaged in task
Offline meta-knowledge
Awareness of our cognitive processes in general, outside of any specific task
- Related to episodic and semantic memory
[knowing how we study etc]
Online meta-control
(related to meta-knowledge)
Ability to regulate cognitive processes during active engagement in a task
Offline meta-control
Our ability to regulate our cognitive processes outside of a task
[ie, reflecting on past performance]
Brain regions associated w metacognition
- MOSTLY frontal lobe
- made up of a bunch of networks
- offline control tends to overlap w DMN
Are mind-wandering and metacognition opposites?
- they were thought to be
- but actually are pretty interlaced
- mind-wandering is now considered part of cognitive processing
- and other abilities like creativity and mindfulness depend on the interaction between these 2
What’s the MAI?
Metacognitive Awareness Inventory
–> Presents different statements regarding aspects of metacognition on a scale
- Helps measure declarative, procedural and conditional knowledge
Declarative Knowledge
Knowing myself as a learner, understanding the task, awareness of learning strategies
Procedural Knowledge
Knowing HOW to use learning strategies
Conditional knowledge
Understanding when and why to use specific strategies
Which is more important for academic success?
Meta-control and meta-regulation, tho ofc knowledge is also important
