Date Approved
8-22-2011
Embargo Period
3-3-2020
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ed.D. Educational Leadership
Department
Educational Leadership
College
College of Education
Advisor
Kuder, S Jay
Subject(s)
Brain--Research; Middle school teaching
Disciplines
Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration
Abstract
The discipline of mind, brain, and education science is the merger of psychology, neuroscience, and education. Its focus is to address complex problems in education and provide evidence-based solutions. One facet of this mixed methods action research study expanded middle school teachers' knowledge of brain function and brain-based strategies through a five-part workshop series and created a ten session professional learning community. Participants selected strategies such as relaxation, working memory tasks, or taught students about their brains to increase academic achievement, and tracked two groups' progress. Strategy implementation was judged to be too time consuming except for relaxation exercises. Alternate classes were suggested for strategy implementation instead of core classes. At its conclusion, teachers gained usable knowledge affecting their lesson planning and teaching, some students' working memory scores increased, and some students gained practical knowledge of their learning strengths and weaknesses. Although mixed, these results support the continued use of empirical brain research to inform teaching practices in a middle school setting.
Recommended Citation
Sanders, Irene, "Connecting brain research with teaching practice among middle school teachers" (2011). Theses and Dissertations. 98.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/98
