George Lucas Educational Foundation
Edutopia

Brain-Based Learning

Explore the mysteries of the human brain! Find out how discoveries in neuroscience provide insights into how students learn -- and how to engage them in the classroom.

  • Dragons and Fairy Tales in Science Class

    Using stories as a hook to grab students’ attention leads them to deep engagement with scientific concepts.
    Amy Schwartzbach-Kang, Edward Kang

  • Why Boredom Often Beats Screen Time

    Teaching the nuances of when and how to use technology—and leaving room for boredom—can be invaluable, says journalist Manoush Zomorodi.
    Laura Lee

  • Building Executive Function Skills Can Be Fun

    Teachers can help students improve skills like inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility by explicitly connecting them to popular games—and then letting students play.
    Lisa Suh

  • The Powerful Effects of Drawing on Learning

    The science is clear: Drawing beats out reading and writing to help students remember concepts.

  • What’s Executive Function—and Why Does It Matter?

    The skills that make up executive function are better predictors of success than test scores, IQ, or socioeconomic status.

  • Unraveling the Myths Around Reading and Dyslexia

    Teachers are seeking new training to understand the brain science around dyslexia, the most commonly reported disability among children.
    Holly Korbey

  • Decoding the Teenage Brain (in 3 Charts)

    New technologies are shedding light on what really makes adolescents tick—and providing clues on how we might reach them better.
    Stephen Merrill

  • Starting the Day With a Calming Routine

    Exercises that help young students who’ve experienced trauma transition into the school day in a relaxed and ready state.
    Lori Desautels

  • Simple Ways to Integrate Four Evidence-Based Teaching Strategies

    Jennifer Gonzalez talks with a researcher and a teacher to tackle the science—and the logistics—behind teaching strategies like spaced practice and interleaving.
    Laura Lee

  • The Science of Drawing and Memory

    Want students to remember something? Ask them to draw it.
    Youki Terada

  • Developing Executive Function With Priority Lists

    Explicitly modeling the process of prioritizing tasks builds students’ ability to organize and manage their time.

  • Evidence-Based Scheduling With Daniel Pink

    The best-selling author explains why the order of the school day should look different for elementary and high school students.
    Laura Lee

  • Activities That Prime the Brain for Learning

    Brain breaks and focused attention practices help students feel relaxed and alert and ready to learn.
    Lori Desautels

  • Why Students Forget—and What You Can Do About It

    Our brains are wired to forget, but there are research-backed strategies you can use to make your teaching stick.
    Youki Terada

  • Boosting Student Memory

    Forgetting starts as soon as learning happens, but you can make your teaching stickier with these five tips.