Whole Brain Teaching
Whole brain teaching; it sounds complicated and demanding but the clips got me thinking. I have never seen a
classroom full of students who were so engaged and seemed to be learning so quickly. This technique of teaching requires students to be fully engaged, with their minds and bodies. When the teacher was giving instructions on what to do next, he was saying the words but also demonstrating actions that will help students to be attentive and understand what is being ask of them. This type of teaching does seem very structured but successful and
meaningful learning does require structure. Actions speak louder than words; students were acting, reacting and responding to instruction. The instructions were repetitive at times, but only to an extent to where
the students understand and will now be able to teach that same instruction to another student.
There was also the element of reward and punishment, which I believe can work if used in the right context. Reward and punishment go hand in hand, and students do respond well to this technique. In the videos, if the students did well, they were able to have a one second party; if they did not respond quickly enough, they were to say “aw,” in a sad and grumpy way. The way the teacher portrayed these two extremes was amazing, because it got the whole class to participate and be more enthusiastic.
I could definitely see myself using this technique in my own classroom. This technique teaches students discipline, teamwork and problem solving skills. I love that all of the students were alert and there was total student
engagement; the students were learning but also having fun at the same time. Whole brain teaching for the win!
References
Biffle, C. (2010, February 12). How to begin whole brain teaching: 1 [Video file]. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJw9mzCtWbk
Biffle, C. (2010, February 12). How to begin whole brain teaching: 2 [Video file]. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfS6aNdG0k4
Biffle, C. (2013). Whole brain teaching: Powered by funtricity! Retrieved October 23, 2013, from
http://www.wholebrainteaching.com/index.php/blog/Chris-Biffle.html?font
Naumann, A. (2013). Rule 5: Keep your dear teacher happy [Image]. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from
http://techbrainteaching.blogspot.ca/p/whole-brain-teaching.html
Naumann, A. (2013). Class yes!! [Image]. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from
http://techbrainteaching.blogspot.ca/p/whole-brain-teaching.html
Biffle, C. (2010, February 12). How to begin whole brain teaching: 1 [Video file]. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJw9mzCtWbk
Biffle, C. (2010, February 12). How to begin whole brain teaching: 2 [Video file]. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfS6aNdG0k4
Biffle, C. (2013). Whole brain teaching: Powered by funtricity! Retrieved October 23, 2013, from
http://www.wholebrainteaching.com/index.php/blog/Chris-Biffle.html?font
Naumann, A. (2013). Rule 5: Keep your dear teacher happy [Image]. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from
http://techbrainteaching.blogspot.ca/p/whole-brain-teaching.html
Naumann, A. (2013). Class yes!! [Image]. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from
http://techbrainteaching.blogspot.ca/p/whole-brain-teaching.html