Brain Breaks
Introduction
Welcome to a mini course on Brain Breaks, a journey into the realm of resetting and engaging in the process of learning! In today's educational landscape, the battle for attention has never been more challenging. As educators, we're tasked with navigating the distractions of the digital age while fostering an environment conducive to deep learning and engagement. In recent years, the rise of technology has reshaped the way we teach and learn. While it has brought unparalleled access to information, it has also ushered in a new era of shortened attention spans, particularly among our young learners. The constant barrage of notifications, social media updates, and online entertainment has left students frazzled and unfocused, hindering their ability to absorb and retain information.
Traditional teaching methods, reliant on prolonged periods of instruction, are increasingly ineffective in capturing and sustaining students' attention. Simply put, trying to teach through waning attention spans is akin to shouting into the wind – futile and frustrating for both educators and students alike. However, amidst this challenge lies a solution: the strategic implementation of brain breaks. These short, intentional pauses in learning offer a much-needed reprieve from the cognitive demands of the classroom. Whether it's through physical activity, mindfulness meditation, playful games, or stimulating brain exercises, brain breaks provide a pathway to recharge and refocus student attention.
In this mini course, we will explore the profound link between attention span and the strategic use of brain breaks. We'll delve into the science behind why these brief interludes are essential for maintaining optimal cognitive function and enhancing overall learning outcomes. More importantly, I’ll equip you with practical tools and techniques to seamlessly integrate brain breaks into your teaching repertoire, transforming your classroom into a focused engagement and active participation hub.
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Needs Assessment
Problem:
In the book Tools for Teaching, Davis (5) states that “...student attention during lectures tends to wane after approximately 10–15 minutes.” In a school, a typical block time can be anywhere between 40 minutes to an hour and 20 minutes. This poses a problem for educators and students. Their minds are not able to maintain focus for that amount of time, which leads to problems for the educator, as students "check out" or start to misbehave. Brain breaks are designed to help students get more out of the time they spend in a block, as they are given small breaks and the chance to refocus.
What is to be learned:
Participants in this mini-course will reflect upon their attention span. And learn about the various ways they can give themselves and students a Brain Break from long tasks. The participant will also create their own brain break board/slides to act as a "menu" when choosing brain breaks. Finally, the participants will devise a way to implement this practice in their teaching and collaborate with other educators on the use of Brain Breaks in the classroom.
Goals:
The goal of this course is to help its participants maximize the time children spend maintaining focus on a task to help students grow to the best of their ability.
Performance-Based Objectives
- Learners will be able to define brain breaks.
- Learners will be able to recognize their own attention span habits.
- Learners will be able to understand how brain breaks can redirect attention during learning
- Learners will be able to construct diverse types of brain breaks.
- Learners will be able to create and implement a brain break plan for their class.
Course Units
Unit 1: Attention Span and Brain Breaks
In this unit, the learners will recognize their own attention span habits and think about how brain breaks can help promote better work habits and help learners regain focus.
Unit 2: Types of Brain Breaks
In this unit, the learner will be able to identify types of brain breaks and understand how different brain breaks are used intentionally by need (Movement, Calming, Creation, or Connection). They will curate different brain breaks to then create a toolkit of breaks to choose from.
Unit 3: Apply Brain Breaks and How to Implement Them Effectively
In this unit, the learner will learn how and when to implement brain breaks in the classroom and try it out in their place of learning.
Are you ready to participate in the mini-course and learn about brain breaks? If so, click Unit 1: Attention Span and Brain Breaks in the "Navigation" tab to get started!