Left and right brain characteristics

Match the characteristics with either the left or the right brain.

· right brain characteristics

· left brain characteristics

Left and right brain characteristics

Look at the left and right brain characteristics in the table below. Can you see a pattern?

Look at the type of tasks performed by the right brain and then think back to the type of things that learners do that teachers do not want them to do. Do you notice any links?

Basically, when the left brain gets tired, it is the right brain that takes over. As a result, young learners start daydreaming, moving about in their chairs and looking out of the window.

So, what’s the function of the right hemisphere, apart from causing disruption in the class? Well, it also has memory and that is important in learning. Remember, we need the left hemisphere to learn language, but we need the right hemisphere to make learning more effective!

Though of course we all have two hemispheres, some people are left-brain dominant and others are right-brain dominant. In most Western cultures, education tends to favour the left brain more than the right brain.

In other words, Western educational practices place greater emphasis on rational thinking, the ability to express oneself verbally and read well. Is this the same where you work?

Discussion

Are you more right- or left-brain dominant? Which senses do you think you learn with the most? Have you ever had a student who was extremely visual, auditory or kinaesthetic?

Do you actually agree with these theories?

Now share your thoughts in the Learning styles: where do you stand? discussion in the Forum.

Date: 2016-01-03; view: 948