Information about the human brain to keep your learners engaged

Interesting facts about the human brain! Our brain contains about 100 billion neurons or nerve cells, its average width is 140 mm, and its average length is 167 mm.

The Brain – Let’s Use It to the Fullest and Learn Easily! Part III

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• Its average height is 93 mm.

• Its average weight is almost 450 grams.

• It is covered by a thin layer of nerve cells called the cortex or neocortex.

• It continues to grow and develop in different ways throughout a person's entire life.

• It also has a functional division into two main parts: the left and right hemispheres; the left focuses on analytical functions, and the right – on abstract and creative ones.

There are endless horizons for learning.

How can we keep a group of learners’ attention and make them actively participate in the training process? Here, specialists will say that it depends on the participants, their personal preferences, gender, religion, principles, etc. But we will summarize and answer the question at the level of brain activity. It hardly matters what is being studied - the approach is what counts.

To make learners literally rush into extensive research, you can take them to the nearest mall and have them reach the depths of discovery on their own. Depending on the planned topic in the curriculum, you can assign them tasks such as observation, gathering information, creating a diary, or interviewing people.

After each such task, there should be a discussion among the group participants, reports or presentations of the collected information should be presented, and the important lesson should be pointed out. Such activities involve working with the same information, but for different purposes. First it is collected, then recorded, calculated, and analyzed. The data must be stored in an accessible online format, such as content management systems. In this way, different parts of the brain are gradually engaged in diverse functions.

When possible, depending on the type of training, of course, it is useful to allow participants to get as close as possible to the object of study in a real way, so that the result is more relevant. Simulations of various scenarios place a person in a unique opportunity to try something with a high degree of realism and, most importantly, to allow themselves to fail in order to gain even more benefits. This is how the principle of „trial and error“ works. We all know that once something is done wrong, it is remembered much more than something done correctly!

Source: The Creative Training Idea Book, Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning, ROBERT W. LUCAS

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What basic facts about the human brain are highlighted on this page?

The page shares several simple facts about the human brain. It says the brain has about 100 billion neurons, an average width of 140 mm, an average length of 167 mm, an average height of 93 mm, and a weight of almost 450 grams. It also notes that the brain is covered by the cortex or neocortex and continues developing throughout life.

How does the page describe the two main hemispheres of the brain?

The page says the brain has two main hemispheres: the left and the right. According to the text, the left hemisphere focuses on analytical functions, while the right hemisphere is linked to abstract and creative functions. This division is used to explain why learning activities should engage the brain in different ways.

How can trainers keep learners’ attention during training?

The page suggests that the approach matters more than the topic itself. Trainers can keep attention by giving participants active tasks such as observation, gathering information, creating a diary, or interviewing people. Group discussion, reports, and presentations after each task also help learners stay involved and engaged.

What kinds of activities are recommended to make learners participate more actively?

The page recommends tasks that let learners collect, record, calculate, and analyze information for different purposes. Examples include observation, information gathering, diary writing, and interviewing people. These activities encourage learners to work with the same material in multiple ways and then share the results with the group.

Why does the page suggest using real-life or realistic training situations?

The page says it is useful to bring participants as close as possible to the object of study in a real way when the type of training allows it. Realistic situations make the result more relevant and help learners connect theory with practice. The text also notes that simulations give people a safe chance to try things and even fail, which can improve learning.

What is the role of trial and error in learning, according to the page?

The page explains that simulations and realistic practice support the principle of trial and error. Allowing learners to make mistakes can be valuable because people often remember what they did wrong more strongly than what they did correctly. This makes the learning experience more memorable and can lead to deeper understanding.