Brain Learning Log

What?

There are 12 different areas of the brain that we covered in class. Each has a very specific responsibility in maintaining normal function. Any trauma or disease to any area of the brain can severely or only partially change function. The different areas of the brain are interdependent on one another. When it is said that a specific area of the brain controls certain types of brain activity, it is actually only the most centralized part of the brain for that specific activity. In reality there is activity in all areas of the brain to some degree in almost any task. The portion of the brain I was personally asked to share was Broca's Area. Broca's area is responsible for language and music production. It was named after a doctor/scientist in the mid-1800's named Pierre Paul Broca. Aphasia caused by disruption of this area usually only effects the patient in being able to say what they want to say. They can effectively think complete thoughts, it is just a matter of speaking or producing them. This is in contrast to regular aphasia, which usually causes problems with writing, reading, speaking, and listening. This is usually sustained traumatically, while disruption of Broca's area can be cause by both disease and trauma.

So What?

The information we learned about the brain is important for educators to understand. Students we encounter may have issues with certain areas of their brain, and if we as teachers have a greater knowledge of how the brain functions, we will be able to better serve them and provide a quality education for them.

Now What?

It is valuable for me to know about the brain as a future educator so that I can vary my teaching in order to build the most connections within the brain for knowledge retention. If I teach strictly by memorization, my students will not be able to retain the knowledge as well. We must build experiences for our students in order to build the most neural connections within their brains. This may be challenging for me, considering I am teaching Health, Anatomy, and Biology. All of these subjects are very fact-memorization based. I will have to come up with varied ways in order to teach my students to retain the information, rather than just regurgitate it, and then forget it.