Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/building-community-habits-of-learning
Educators looking to refine their teaching strategies and foster a more effective learning environment will find “Uncommon Sense Teaching: Part 2, Building Community and Habits of Learning” on Coursera an invaluable resource. This course dives deep into the latest research, making complex neuroscience accessible and, dare I say, fun.
Part 2 builds upon its predecessor by exploring the hidden strengths of neurodiversity, including dyslexia, ADHD, and autism. It challenges the conventional view of these conditions, highlighting how understanding and adapting to them can unlock significant potential in students. A particularly fascinating segment delves into the ‘value of forgetting,’ a concept that might seem counterintuitive but is crucial for effective long-term learning. The course also provides practical strategies for leveraging habits formed by the brain’s procedural system to enhance classroom management, transforming a potentially chaotic environment into a well-oiled machine.
The syllabus is thoughtfully structured. Week 1 tackles motivation, stress, and character change, emphasizing the role of surprise and curiosity in learning, and even touching upon the amygdala’s influence on subconscious biases. It also addresses the effectiveness of ‘cramming’ and the complex issue of student motivation, even exploring the unfortunate reality of bullying among teachers.
Week 2 focuses on reaching students through both declarative and procedural learning pathways. It explains how the brain processes tasks consciously or nonconsciously based on repetition, and how procedural learning can lead to automaticity, making learning faster and classroom management smoother.
Week 3 delves into intellectual humility, critical thinking, and bias, drawing a compelling comparison between ‘hikers’ (those who learn more slowly but accurately) and ‘race cars’ (those who learn quickly but may struggle with accepting errors). This section highlights how these learning styles impact critical thinking abilities.
The course culminates by addressing neurodiversity and student groups, offering practical advice for teachers of students with learning challenges. It advocates for nurturing individual learning styles rather than forcing conformity, often suggesting a tailored approach to procedural versus declarative learning. The final videos provide a template and insights for careful lesson planning, empowering educators to ‘soar’ in their teaching.
Overall, “Uncommon Sense Teaching: Part 2” is a highly recommended course for any educator seeking to understand the ‘why’ behind effective teaching practices. It’s packed with actionable insights grounded in scientific research, delivered in an engaging and thought-provoking manner. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged and your teaching toolkit expanded.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/building-community-habits-of-learning