Brain-Based Learning: Of Mice and Memory
By Jillian on January 31st, 2010
Brains learn and remember better if there’s fun involved. This fact was reinforced for me recently while watching a Nova Science Now episode where mice were tasked to find an island within a pool of water. After finding it, some mice were taken to a getaway – a fun game and exercise filled mouse vacation, others were not. After two weeks away, guess which mice easily found their island again? Okay we’re talking about mice and not people, but the same principles apply – relaxation, fun, creativity, and exercise all enhance the brain’s ability to create memories and form positive associations. Fun and games are fun, but they also serve a purpose – even in the classroom, and even for those uptight participants who think it’s a waste of time. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/0301/02.html
Grow smarter with this fascinating technique that takes just 2 minutes a day.
Research indicates that children smile or laugh 400 times per day while adults smile or laugh only 15 times per day. At IdeaLearning Group we know that laughter is an important component of learning; it reduces stress, is emotionally engaging and enhances creativity and cognitive thinking.
As the horrific images of the Haiti earthquake began pouring in via every media source I own I felt sick. Mobile web, laptop, newspaper, television, radio – you name it there it was. The next day Shannon and I decided immediately to donate an entire client fee to Mercy Corps, a Portland based international relief agency with a first class reputation. We felt better knowing at least we had done what we could.
