Many educators approach me asking: 'How can we increase engagement among this generation of students in our classrooms? It seems they're not interested." My response is: "Are we adapting our teaching methods to suit and meet the needs of today's students, who are born in a world filled with technology? Or are we educating our … Continue reading Adapting Education for the Digital Natives: Rethinking Teaching Methodologies for Today’s Technologically Fluent Children – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
Author: erineuroscience
Can educational neuroscience transform education in Malta? – An interview with Dr Erika Galea on Newsbook Malta. In the first of a two-part interview by Miguel Azzopardi, Dr Galea calls for the integration of social-emotional learning into the curriculum.
Is today’s education system suitable for an ever-changing world? Does it adequately help young people develop not just their skills and intellectual capabilities, but also emotionally? Does our education system prepare young people for a world that is uncertain, complex and ambiguous? Newsbook Malta spoke with Dr Erika Galea, an educator and researcher, and the … Continue reading Can educational neuroscience transform education in Malta? – An interview with Dr Erika Galea on Newsbook Malta. In the first of a two-part interview by Miguel Azzopardi, Dr Galea calls for the integration of social-emotional learning into the curriculum.
Understanding how we think: why educators need to know how the brain learns – Dr. Erika Galea on The Sunday Times of Malta
Educators carry a significant responsibility: not only do they guide students in understanding new concepts but they also equip them with the essential skills needed for the 21st century. However, to do that well, they need to know not just what to teach, but how students learn. It is a question that is as simple … Continue reading Understanding how we think: why educators need to know how the brain learns – Dr. Erika Galea on The Sunday Times of Malta
Brain Awareness Week: 11th March to 17th March 2024 – Dr. Erika Galea
Brain Awareness Week is an annual celebration dedicated to advancing public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research. This global campaign aims to promote a public interest in neuroscience, educating individuals about the brain's significance in human life, the impact of brain diseases, and the importance of brain health. In this article, we … Continue reading Brain Awareness Week: 11th March to 17th March 2024 – Dr. Erika Galea
Education strategy must embrace a growth mindset – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
The National Education Strategy 2024-2030, published by the Ministry for Education, which is open for public feedback until February 13, marks the beginning of an educational transformation. The strategy aims to improve the education system, placing special emphasis on the well-being of educators and students through a focus on the skills of emotional intelligence, emotional … Continue reading Education strategy must embrace a growth mindset – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
The Crucial and Urgent Need to Address Men’s Mental Health Issues – Dr. Erika Galea
In light of recurring local events making headlines and the everyday situations I witness, I felt a strong urge to write this today. Teaching boys from a young age to regulate their emotions, both in school and through their upbringing at home, is crucial for men's mental health. In my work focusing on mental health … Continue reading The Crucial and Urgent Need to Address Men’s Mental Health Issues – Dr. Erika Galea
A Neuroscientific Analysis of the Children’s National Policy Framework – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
The Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights recently launched for public consultation its proposed Children’s Policy Framework for the period 2024 to 2030, under the title ‘Investing in our Children for a Better Tomorrow’. The consultation is ongoing until January 31. In this article, I offer a neuroscientific analysis of the four national priorities … Continue reading A Neuroscientific Analysis of the Children’s National Policy Framework – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
‘We have cognitive capacity, we have affective capacity, we have social capacity and we have physical capacity, and school should seek to develop all four of those. If we fail to do so, we have less than whole people as students’ – Professor Carol Ann Tomlinson
In the concluding vlog of the series, the respected and globally recognised Professor Carol Ann Tomlinson delves deeper into the holistic approach to education. She advocates for the comprehensive development of students, emphasising the equal importance of cognitive, emotional, social, and physical aspects in the learning process. Professor Tomlinson articulates a compelling argument: neglecting any … Continue reading ‘We have cognitive capacity, we have affective capacity, we have social capacity and we have physical capacity, and school should seek to develop all four of those. If we fail to do so, we have less than whole people as students’ – Professor Carol Ann Tomlinson
‘Because we are in a world in which kids need to go as meaning-makers, we need to be using assessments for kids to demonstrate understanding, apply what they have learned, and transfer it to situations that are brand new’ – Prof. Carol Ann Tomlinson
In her exploration of educational strategies featured in the third vlog of her 4-part series, Professor Carol Ann Tomlinson delves into the capacities of every student in a classroom. She challenges the notion of labelling students as 'gifted', emphasising instead the unique neurodiversity and potential in each individual. Prof. Tomlinson advocates for a personalised approach … Continue reading ‘Because we are in a world in which kids need to go as meaning-makers, we need to be using assessments for kids to demonstrate understanding, apply what they have learned, and transfer it to situations that are brand new’ – Prof. Carol Ann Tomlinson
Key skills every student needs to achieve balance – Dr. Erika Galea on The Sunday Times of Malta
This third article in a series discussing educational neuroscience (EN) looks at the relevance of emotional intelligence, metacognition and self-regulated learning. In a rapidly evolving technological age, there is no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) promises a revolutionary transformation in education. However, while we are eager to integrate advanced technologies into the classroom, we must … Continue reading Key skills every student needs to achieve balance – Dr. Erika Galea on The Sunday Times of Malta
Movember and Beyond: The Imperative of Emotion Regulation Strategies for Boys in Schools – Dr. Erika Galea
As the chill of November sets in (not locally though), a different kind of change is cultivated across the faces of men worldwide. The month, now colloquially termed 'Movember', is no longer just about growing mustaches but has developed into a movement that advocates for men's health, with a particular emphasis on mental health and … Continue reading Movember and Beyond: The Imperative of Emotion Regulation Strategies for Boys in Schools – Dr. Erika Galea
‘A teacher who has a growth mindset believes that the brain is malleable and develops efficiently if we work with it in the right way, believes that kids can be given wonderful opportunities to learn almost anything they need to learn, and that our job is to reflect that to kids’ – Prof. Carol Ann Tomlinson
In the second vlog of her 4-part series, Professor Carol Ann Tomlinson delves into how research standards have evolved over time. In the 70s, researchers met the best-known standards of their era, just as in fields like medicine and architecture. They couldn't meet a 2020 research standard simply because they operated with the best knowledge … Continue reading ‘A teacher who has a growth mindset believes that the brain is malleable and develops efficiently if we work with it in the right way, believes that kids can be given wonderful opportunities to learn almost anything they need to learn, and that our job is to reflect that to kids’ – Prof. Carol Ann Tomlinson
Educational Neuroscience reshaping the future of teaching and learning – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
How do children’s and young people’s brains develop when they learn? How can emotions be regulated and how can resilience be built? Which intervention programmes and technologies should be pursued throughout a child’s or an adolescent’s life? How can memory skills be improved? These are questions, amongst many others, that educational neuroscience (EN) seeks to … Continue reading Educational Neuroscience reshaping the future of teaching and learning – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
‘A teacher needs to feel a real sense of energy in the content he or she teaches: this is a way for kids to understand better what the world means, what life is about and what their role in life is’ – Prof. Carol Ann Tomlinson
It was a true honour to engage in enlightening discussions about evidence-based practices with the esteemed Professor Carol Ann Tomlinson. I was absolutely thrilled when she accepted my invitation to be a featured guest on the Educational Neuroscience Hub blog. Her insights were not only inspirational but also deeply enriching. Throughout my undergraduate B.Ed. (Hons.) … Continue reading ‘A teacher needs to feel a real sense of energy in the content he or she teaches: this is a way for kids to understand better what the world means, what life is about and what their role in life is’ – Prof. Carol Ann Tomlinson
Fostering Cognitive Foundations through the Integration of Creative Arts in Curriculum – Dr. Erika Galea
This article provides relevant insights into incorporating creative arts skills into the core subjects, for the attention of parents, teachers and other stakeholders interested in the development of children at any stage in their educational journey. Introduction In recent years, there has been an increasing global recognition of the significance of integrating creative arts into … Continue reading Fostering Cognitive Foundations through the Integration of Creative Arts in Curriculum – Dr. Erika Galea
Empowering teachers to address students’ mental health – Dr. Erika Galea on The Sunday Times of Malta
Children’s mental health has become an international and societal priority. In recent years, the prevalence of mental health issues among teenagers and youths has risen significantly in Malta, with alarming rates of anxiety, sadness, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. The impact of these challenges on academic achievement, social development, and overall well-being underscores the need … Continue reading Empowering teachers to address students’ mental health – Dr. Erika Galea on The Sunday Times of Malta
‘Transfer of knowledge is not automatic. In order for our students to transfer knowledge or skills from one scenario to another, we need to guide them. I always think of learning for the teacher as a well-choreographed dance’ – Patrice Bain
In the third and last part of her three-part vlog series, Patrice Bain, an experienced educator, speaker, and author, delves into how the process of knowledge transfer is not automatic; it requires guidance to enable students to apply knowledge and skills across different scenarios. This concept is likened to a well-choreographed dance in the context … Continue reading ‘Transfer of knowledge is not automatic. In order for our students to transfer knowledge or skills from one scenario to another, we need to guide them. I always think of learning for the teacher as a well-choreographed dance’ – Patrice Bain
‘Too often, we as teachers do not give the students the tools to discriminate what they know from what they don’t know…..Simply by learning how to learn, and teaching our students this, it is such a big win for all of us’ – Patrice Bain
In the second part of her three-part vlog series, Patrice Bain, an experienced educator, speaker, and author, delves into the cognitive strategies featured in her book 'Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning.' These strategies have earned the nickname "power tools" due to their remarkable effectiveness. She emphasises that adopting these powerful cognitive strategies is … Continue reading ‘Too often, we as teachers do not give the students the tools to discriminate what they know from what they don’t know…..Simply by learning how to learn, and teaching our students this, it is such a big win for all of us’ – Patrice Bain
‘We as teachers are taught how to teach but it is really rare that we learn how our students learn, delving into the science of learning’ – Patrice Bain
In the first part of her three-part vlog series, Patrice Bain, an experienced educator, speaker, and author, sheds light on the phenomenon she coined as 'the fad of the semester club' regarding professional development sessions. Throughout her teaching career, she noticed a recurring pattern in professional development sessions every semester. Each session introduced a new … Continue reading ‘We as teachers are taught how to teach but it is really rare that we learn how our students learn, delving into the science of learning’ – Patrice Bain
‘We need to find those novel ways of introducing the curriculum, and doing it in ways that arouse their curiosity…we have to allow the students to experience the curriculum themselves. Traditional teaching is not conducive to learning. Being shown or told something doesn’t create strong memory traces’ – Liz Keable
In the third part of her three-part vlog series, Liz Keable, an experienced educator and parent, points out that in order to enhance learning outcomes, it is crucial to explore fresh and innovative approaches when introducing the curriculum. By captivating students' curiosity and providing opportunities for them to explore and engage with the ideas that … Continue reading ‘We need to find those novel ways of introducing the curriculum, and doing it in ways that arouse their curiosity…we have to allow the students to experience the curriculum themselves. Traditional teaching is not conducive to learning. Being shown or told something doesn’t create strong memory traces’ – Liz Keable