A close friend, who happens to be the organiser of Julian’s InventaLand (for more information about Julian’s InventaLand, visit https://julianspathfinder.org/), coincidentally called Erika, requested me to lead a session for these gifted and twice-exceptional learners. It was a morning spent presenting the theme ‘Educational Neuroscience through Outdoor Learning’. Effective and impactful learning took place during that morning’s incredible experience. Children showed a high level of involvement and engagement with learning by having many opportunities to critically think, question, observe, and be given the chance to relay their perspectives. And more importantly, the children enjoyed themselves while learning elements of educational neuroscience.
One of the concepts presented was neuroplasticity, which refers to the brain’s flexibility and ability to change throughout its lifetime. Neuroplasticity is the science behind rewiring the brain. It is the main reason we can develop skills and knowledge through effort, practice, and persistence, which in turn leads to a greater motivation to learn in students. In a recent meta-analysis (Sarrasin et al., 2018), it was found that students’ awareness of neuroplasticity brought about positive effects in terms of their academic achievement; namely in reading and particularly in maths. A variety of positive effects can be achieved by teaching students about neuroplasticity. Knowing that their brain is improving and developing and that they can aid this process can be highly motivating. It should result in fewer students avoiding certain subjects or dealing with challenges because they think they ‘do not have the brain for it’. This can not only spark their interest in learning but also improve their perception of themselves and their potential; and embrace mistakes, obstacles, and challenges.
Neuroplasticity promotes a growth mindset. You can connect both concepts by saying that a growth mindset encourages you to try new things to help your brain function better. A simple way to start changing to a growth mindset, is by the use of a little word, ‘yet‘. In essence, the word means a realisation that some things are worth waiting for, and those things take work. We are all on a learning journey, and that just because you haven’t accomplished a task yet, does not mean that you cannot or should not try and certainly that you should not give up. Your ‘yet’ is coming, your ‘yet’ is not yet. And this is what these learners were taught through outdoor and nature games during this workshop: knowledge and skills they could carry with them throughout their lives.
Following this activity, one of these learners wrote a heartwarming story called ‘The Power of Yet’, which features below. His mother was so kind as to share it with us since she believes that these activities are so beneficial and successful at forming the children’s ways of thinking. Enjoy!
