that exposure to a wide variety of impulses (immersion) causes cells of brain dendrites to
branch out and connect with other dendrites, and repeated exposure to the learning task
thickens the myelin sheath that surrounds the axon portion of the dendrites. The belief is
that the thicker the myelin sheath, the more encapsulated is the learning and recall of
information is faster (Rushton, Eitelgeorge & Zickafoose, 2003). Therefore an enriched
learning environment increases brain cell weight, branching of dendrites and synaptic
responses (Diamond & Hopson, 1998). In other words, brain cell communication is all
about making new and stronger connections (Jensen, 2005) and learning is the key driver
of this connection process. The implication of this second premise is that learning
environments should be rich in sensory experiences. This implication coincides with the
Habit of Mind, Gathering Data through All Senses. Many early education centres
strongly advocate this premise through the provision of highly sensory environments that
allow children to touch, smell, see, taste and hear a multitude of stimuli.
A third major premise from brain research builds upon the notion of stronger brain
connections. The third premise is that learning occurs best when our brain makes
connections with previous knowledge and experience (Hardiman, 2001). Our brain builds
better memory and deeper understandings when new stimuli is linked to existing stores of
knowledge. This premise corresponds directly with Applying Past Knowledge to New
Situations, a Habit of Mind that incorporates the concept of knowledge transfer to
different contexts. When students use personal mathematical knowledge to assist their
technology designs, or when adults correct their budgeting mistakes from the past,
transfer of exiting knowledge is occurring.
A fourth major premise of brain research is that the brain prefers multi-processing of a
number of inputs rather than a slow linear pace of learning (Caine & Caine, 1997).
Learning is often rich and unconscious ñ that is our brains process both parts and wholes
at the same time and our brains are affected by peripheral influences (Lackney, 2002).
This simultaneous multi-processing function of the brain infers that learning
environments should appeal to various senses and that information can be delivered in
multiple, simultaneous modes. Again Gathering Data through All Senses is highlighted
through this premise, an example being a student who can listen to a lecture, process
visual input given by the tutor, and create notes on the lecture topic simultaneously.
Lastly, a fifth major premise is that emotion and thought are physically intertwined (eg.
emotion chemicals such as adrenalin, dopamine and serotinin), and our bodies become
part of this network because we feel emotions in our body, which in turn influences our
brain (Zull, 2004). This means that emotions are not confined to the thoughts in our head,
but that emotions manifest themselves through physical changes in our body (eg.
blushing, sweating, tension), sending further emotional messages back to our brain.
Therefore learning needs to feel good and be intrinsically motivating (Zull, 2004).
Positive emotions drive attention, which in turn drives memory and learning (Wolfe &
Brandt, 1998; Sylwester, 1995). Therefore learners need to attend to lifeskills, be exposed
to meaningful content and work within a supportive physical and emotional environment
(Kovalik & Olsen, 1998). This final premise relates directly to Metacognition and
Listening with Understanding and Empathy, whereby learners seek increased awareness
of the meaning of their own emotions and make efforts to understand the emotions of
others. This greater understanding of emotional meaning may be enhanced through
metacognitive strategies such as the monitoring of emotional cues, and reflective