Current Research in Education

 

A dash of the latest Research!

Kinesthetic Activities:	Actions energize students by allowing increased oxygen and glucose to get to the brain (Gregory and Chapman, 2002).
Using Manipulatives:	There should be materials in the classroom that provide opportunities for students to manipulate, build, or encounter other hands-on experiences (Armstrong, 1991) Great website to check out: mathlearning center.org
Playing Games:	The mechanisms involved when students are playing a game are just as cognitive as when students are doing critical math guided practice (Bjorkland and Brown, 1998) Great website to check out: Blooket
Memory & Metaphors:	Most of our normal system of concepts is metaphorically structured; in other words, most concepts are understood only as they relate to other concepts (Lakoff and Johnson, 1980). Metaphors link abstract, difficult to understand concepts with personal experiences and promote a sense of creativity (Whitin and Whitin, 1997). Metaphors can make otherwise forgettable concepts memorable, placing them easily and quickly into the brain (Deporter, Reardon, and Singer-Nourie, 1999).
Cooperative Learning Strategies:	We learn 90% of what we teach to others (Society for Developmental Education, 1995). U.S. Department of Education

 

What does research tell us?

Summarizing, note taking, and journaling. Proven Percentile Gain: 34%	·       Generating verbal or written summaries ·       Taking notes ·       Self-revisions and error corrections
Representatives and organizers Proven Percentile Gain: 26%	·       Drawings, pictures, and sketches ·       Using graphic organizers ·       Acting it out ·       Creating models ·       Creating pictures