Week 2 Assignment
Explore these links which provide insight into how the brains works in processing information, as well as factors which may hinder the learning process.
1. http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Information_processing
Authored by Michael Orey from the University of Georgia, this article integrates the computer and the brain. It provides an overview of information processing, and makes comparisons and contrasts of the brain and the computer. Additionally, it serves as a suitable introductory material for any course related to learning theories. Furthermore, it provides in-depth information on sensory registers, as well as short-term and long-term memory.
2. http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/infographics/test-your-brain.html
This link serves as a refresher having engaged in studies on the brain and learning. It is a “true or false” quiz which tests your brain on how it affects learning and instruction, and was taken by myself and some classmates. Created by Paul Howard-Jones from the University of Bristol, the quiz comprises of questions which relate to processing, retaining and retrieving information, hence exercising good testing and evaluation skills. However, you may find some of the solutions to be opinionated based on your experiences or other research. For example, there is a question: “emotion hinders reasoning and memory in the brain”, attached to a ‘false’ solution. The explanation given implies that positive emotion such as excitement makes learning easier , while claiming that negative emotions such as stress can hinder learning. I believe that both can hinder learning since excitement can sometimes be distracting. Think of students who spend too much time partying during exams. Some of them may be affected in the retrieval of information.
3. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-47792/How-lack-sleep-affects-brain.html
Lack of sleep can impact how well our brain functions. Besides, the state of sleep exists for a reason. This site generally describes how fatigue can hinder the process of learning, lower IQ, and increase the risk of some diseases and social problems. In this link, research done by Dr Kwangwook Cho showed that the temporal lobe region of the brain of some flight attendants had shrunk for those with short intervals, as opposed to those with longer intervals. Further tests showed that those whose brains had shrunk had worse memories, and higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. As a result, stress may have affected their memory.
References
Anonymous, (n. d). How lack of sleep affects the brain. Retrieved January 17, 2014 from Mail Online at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-47792/How-lack-sleep-affects-brain.html
Hung, C. & Baker, L., (2012). Test your brain. Retrieved from Education Week at http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/infographics/test-your-brain.html January 17, 2014.
Orey, M. (2001). Information Processing. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectiveson learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved January 18, 2014 from http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.phptitle=Information_processing
Krishna Robin 