Every year, all of the staff from all five VR schools gather to exchange ideas, debate important issues, study research and learn “best practices” from experts and each other.
This year, we devoted our time together to the theme of brain-based learning.
First, we listened to Alva Appelgren. Alva is a researcher with the Institution for Clinical Neuroscience at Karolinska Institute. Her work is focused on how feedback affects our brain: our motivation and our performance.
Based on her study, she shared ideas about how we can best
organize a classroom situation so that students are motivated to learn. She also discussed the idea of growth and fixed mindset – ideas based on Carol Dweck’s research.
MegaMind – A quest for the curious
MegaMind is a place where you experiment your way to new smart ideas. Ideas are the answers to all questions and the solution to every problem. But how do you come up with a good idea? In MegaMind, you explore how it all works and how you can train your brain to become even more creative. Paint with your eyes, make virtual sculptures or create music using the power of thought – and other things you didn’t think were possible!
Following the lecture, we were encouraged to mix and mingle to discuss our reactions and reflections during our “walk and talk”. What better place to reflect than the National Museum of Science and Technology in the Mega Mind exhibit?
The exhibit was full of hands-on activities to explore how the brain works. Mixing the informal discussions with informed colleagues and the hands-on activities based on scientific knowledge set the perfect backdrop for accelerated learning.
Now we are excited to return to school and test our ideas, and explore the real question …
“How can we help our students be more ready to learn new things?”
Read more about this year’s professional development plan here>>
Learning @ VR Schools 