50 Classroom Strategies to Enhance Learning-Related Cognitive Domains: How simple classroom strategies can enhance neuroplasticity, attention, memory, motivation and social climate in the classroom Kindle Edition

Learning comes from experimentation, from trial and error. This is the motivation for this book: helping those who are interested, in enhancing learning and teaching using neural mechanisms by providing practical activities to be used in the classroom. In a way, I am also guilty of using the traditional method, as my first book, Critical Thinking in Teaching & Learning: The Nonintuitive New Science of Effective Learning, is more theoretical (though with some practical examples) on how to use the neuroscience of learning to enhance learning and teaching skills. This book is therefore written to provide a direct guide to those who want to change their teaching skills by using new methods, and then reflecting on these changes.All these activities (strategies) can be implemented relatively easily in the classroom, allowing you to learn which works best for your course format and audience. One important aspect is that it is likely the first attempt to use the strategies in the classroom may not go as naturally for you and your students as you wish. This is alright and to be expected. Just keep using, learning, and perfecting them. Your students will also experience a learning curve when you start using them.In this book, I organized the strategies by what, how, or why, in each chapter; in other words: What is the strategy? How is it done? Why does it enhance the respective cognitive domain (e.g., motivation, attention, etc.)?I chose the same cognitive domains used in my first book (Critical Thinking in Teaching & Learning) on this series: the basics of neuroplasticity, attention, memory, motivation and social climate, and stress. Each strategy is analyzed under one of these domains.I have no doubts that compared to the traditional teaching methods (i.e., teacher-centered methods), these techniques will enhance learning, as they have one characteristic in common: They make learning more natural, so that it comes from within students instead of through you as a teacher trying to force them.Some examples of the strategies discussed in the chapters:CHAPTER 1: Teaching strategies to enhance neuroplasticityStrategy 3: Pause Procedure - Using the Pause procedure to Enhance NeuroplasticityStrategy 4: The Socratic SeminarStrategy 5: Small Group DiscussionStrategy 6: Think-Pair-ShareStrategy 7: Successes and failures examplesChapter 2: Strategies to Engage the Attentional SystemStrategy 15: The Snowball MethodStrategy 16: Taking Notes (but efficient note-taking)Strategy 17: Interactive Lecture with Active BreakStrategy 18: Cold CallingStrategy 19: Getting to Know Your Students and Letting Them Know YouChapter 3: Strategies to enhance the memory systemStrategy 26: Interleaved practiceStrategy 27: Effortful retrieval PracticeStrategy 28: Spaced retrievalStrategy 29: Varied practiceStrategy 30: Using metacognitionChapter 4: Strategies to enhance motivationStrategy 35: Solving problemsStrategy 36: Teacher feedbackStrategy 37: Empowering students to become independent learnersStrategy 38: Helping the learner to identify the value of the activityStrategy 39. Removing blocks: metacognitive strategies to connect emotion and mindsetChapter 5: Strategies to enhance social interaction and manage stressStrategy 43: Brainstorming - Round RobinStrategy 44: Teacher–student relationshipStrategy 45: Games to promote social interaction in the classroomStrategy 46: Grading, interaction, and participationStrategy 47: Icebreakers Read more