The HIGH Road and the LOW Road of Learning and Memory

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

How does the brain function? How do we learn? Understanding the basic path of learning and memory is a key to a better understanding of teaching and learning. The basic path of information and how the brain processes it using the concept of the HIGH road versus the LOW road gives teachers and learners an edge in getting information processed into long-term memory.

What is important is that by avoiding student exposure to FEAR, ANXIETY, STRESS and THREAT, learning can take place at a high level.

The HIGH road and LOW road as shared by John Parks Le Tellier and Quantum Learning.

Sensory information (Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic) from the outside world enters the brain and is first sent to the THALAMUS. This part of the brain acts as a relay station and transfers information TWO directions at the same time. 

One direction is called the HIGH road where information is transferred to the appropriate SENSORY cortices. The sensory information then converges to WORKING MEMORY in the prefrontal cortex. Working memory can only focus on ONE thing at a time. Our goal as teachers is to capture and hold WORKING MEMORY. 

The other direction that sensory information travels from the thalamus is called the LOW road to the emotional control center of the brain, the AMYGDALA. One of the responsibilities of the amygdala is to process emotions related to FEAR, ANXIETY, STRESS and THREAT. 

When amygdala is high, prefrontal cortex (working memory) activity is LOW.
When amygdala is low, prefrontal cortex (working memory) activity is HIGH.

By ensuring students are exposed to information that will be processed on the HIGH road, the better chance the information has to become WORKING MEMORY that can be converted to LONG-TERM MEMORY. See the infographic for details of this conversion.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Vote FOR Colstrip Kids!

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

The May 2, 2017 Absentee Election Ballots are going out in the mail tomorrow (April 12, 2017). There are 526 absentee ballots being mailed and with that number, we certainly want our voters to be well informed.

There are three items to be voted on:

• High School General Fund Levy
• Elementary General Fund Levy 
• Request to Sell the Isabel Bills Community Learning Center

As you may know, it is very important for Colstrip Public Schools to pass the General Fund Levies at both the High School and Elementary School. Your support is critical.

I would like to encourage you to ask questions about the impact of the Levy Funds. I would also encourage you to get out and vote. A vote for the Levy Funds is definitely a vote for the children in which we serve. These Levy Funds are crucial for maintaining salaries, equipments, curriculum, activities and the operational expenses of this district.

This community has taken pride in passing Levy Funds in the years past. This is a community that has traditionally supported its kids. Our teachers and staff members have played a key role in this process. I can't stress enough the importance in passing the Levy Funds. Get the word out and support our kids and see that these levies get a FOR vote. Thank you in advance for any, and all of your effort in seeing this need through.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Brain Smart Teaching

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

At the March 27 Pupil Instructional Related (PIR) professional development our instructional staff learned about the cognitive learning system and how the brain processes, questions and stores information. Quantum Learning's Ted Murcray did an excellent job presenting to the staff as the information presented was not only fascinating, but it provided meaningful insights for effective teaching.

A number of our instructional staff said that this was the best PIR that they have attended. I would agree that its was exceptional.

Because of Quantum Learning presentation I continued my quest to find out more and discovered a blog with an exceptional infographic on the topic that describes Neuroplasticity: Rewiring the Brain for Optimal Learning. I believe that this is a great RE-CAP of the QL Brain Basics and I would like to share it with staff and the greater learning community.

In addition, The Quantum Learning System published Excellence in Teaching and Learning by Barbra Given and Bobbi DePorter. The section on Cognitive Learning and Design Component further describes how we learn as well as remember what we learn through the QL Brain Basics (four powerful neuroscientific educational statements that guide instruction):

1. Neurons that fire together wire together
2. Attention is necessary for learning
3. Students make meaning by connecting to existing knowledge and schema
4. Mental imaging supports understanding

These concepts on cognitive learning are just the tip of the iceberg for learning how we learn.  

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The video below was taken during the training. It exemplifies the QL Success Model of the level of difficulty of a task in relationship to a learners willingness to risk. This is just another layer of the onion in the delivery and design of learning. It is all part of firing neurons using Chunking, VAK and Review.

Search For Excellence

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

The District continues to search for excellence. We are aggressively seeking the best teacher and employees for the students of Colstrip. The ads below are being used through social media channels as well as news print. Please share the information to help attract the very best educators.