Brain-Based Learning and Experiential Education
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Association for Experiential Education Pre-Conference 2009
Return to Jay's Faculty page
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
In this intensive and highly interactive pre-conference workshop, participants will engage in both the theory and practice of the emerging field of brain-based learning and explore its connections with experiential education. Participants will leave with both a solid introduction to the research and concrete applications for a variety of educational contexts.
PRESENTER BIOGRAPHY
Jay Roberts, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Education at Earlham College. For over ten years, Jay worked as a lead facilitator for Learning Forum-- a leading brain-based educational program provider. He has worked with some of the leading figures in the brain-based learning field including Eric Jensen, Rich Allen, and Mark Reardon. Jay also has significant experience as a workshop facilitator, achieving trainer certifications from Starbucks Coffee in 1995 and the University of Virginia in 1999, and has been presenting regularly at AEE conferences since 2001. In his present role at Earlham College, Jay teaches courses in teacher education as well as outdoor and environmental studies. He has worked with virtually every aspect of the experiential education field including challenge education, youth-at-risk, corporate facilitation, adventure education, and schools and colleges. His publications include “Beyond Learning By Doing: Brain-Based Learning and Experiential Education” which was recently included in the Theory and Practice of Experiential Education (2008).
OBJECTIVES
Participants will be introduced to the science of the brain and what we understand about the connection between learning and brain function from recent research.
Participants will also actively experience brain-based learning strategies through how the workshop itself will be set-up and facilitated. There will be ample opportunity to put theory into practice.
Participants will come away with a deeper and richer understanding of experiential education and how current brain research both supports and challenges our field.
The workshop will be both open and intensive. While no previous experience will be required, I hope to provide a little something for everyone—from classroom teachers to outdoor educators, and everyone in between. Take-aways in the form of resources, activities, and a workshop notebook will be provided.
TENTATIVE WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
9:00 AM Welcome, Introductions, and Expectations
9:30 AM Brain-Based Learning in Action
10:00 AM Break
10:15 AM Five key findings on the brain and learning from recent research
11:00 AM Implications for Experiential Education
12:00 Lunch (on your own)
1:00 PM Brain-Based Learning in Action, Part II
1:30 PM How to put brain research to use in Education
2:30 PM Break
2:45 PM How to put brain research to use in Education continued
3:30 PM Reflections, Review, and Synthesis
4:00 PM Adjourn
