The brain is the most powerful organ that we have as human beings. It controls everything; it decides what to do and what not to do. We can talk, laugh, smile and move. We can cry, shout, stay quiet and feel sad. Most important of all, it is basically what pushes us to behave, react, act and interact in a certain way. The question is: “why?” Why does the organ called the brain control everything? Why is it so important?
Throughout the years, many scientists have been researching how the brain works and why much research has been conducted in regards to education, which involves how we learn and acquire languages. For this, I would like to start by clarifying how our brain functions. Then, I aim to relate that idea to how humans learn.
To begin with, there is a ‘box’ in our brain, and that is called memory, which we use to store images, information, knowledge, and more. It is fundamental to know that our memory is finite: all the necessary information contained in it will be kept; and the information that is irrelevant will be deleted. If information is not meaningful or frequently used, it is most likely to be lost.
Following the idea mentioned previously, it is vital to consider the importance that metacognition has in our lives. If we learn something, why has our brain learned it? Is it because it is useful? Metacognition is related to a biological process that requires self-reflection in order to foster the learning process. The main question is: WHAT FOR? Why do we need to know how we learn? Do we all learn in the same way?
To answer the latter question – whether we all learn in the same way – the response is simple: No, individuals typically do not learn in the same way. Since we have been dealing with the word learning, we have to know what it is. Learning may be understood as a complex process in which the learner – the person who learns – takes the knowledge, becoming the owner of the knowledge, and applies that knowledge to different contexts. Even though there are people who may act in similar ways, for instance, couples, brothers, sisters, etc., their brains can function very differently. That means that their reaction to certain stimuli might vary depending on the person as well as the different learning styles or techniques that might help the person to succeed.
Based on the previously stated educational context, it is important to bear in mind that there are different kinds of learners with their own learning styles. Therefore, everyone processes and learns new information in different ways. That is to say that understanding how you learn can help to maximize the time you spend studying by incorporating different techniques to custom fit various subjects, concepts, and learning objectives. Each preferred learning style has methods that fit the different ways an individual may learn best.
There are three main learning styles: visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Visual learners learn by using visual tools such as videos, pictures and graphs. Auditory learners learn best by retaining information through listening to others. Kinesthetic learners learn by total physical response. This means that they learn through movement and interaction. Ultimately, it is important to keep in mind these three learning styles, while also noting that one person might not strictly use one style. It could be possible that a certain person has one predominant learning style, but also incorporates others.
To wrap-up everything that has been mentioned throughout the text, I would like to offer my opinion that teachers, in addition to being a “source of knowledge” in the classroom, should also be a model to follow for incorporating the different learning methods into their curricula. What I want to point out is the fact that at the moment of teaching a class, it is important for teachers to be inclusive of those who learn in different ways.
Memories of a Dancer 