LEARNING ORIENTATION RESEARCH NEWSLETTER, February 2009

Purpose: Keep readers informed about learning orientation and neuroscientific research and the application of these theories to instructional models, design, and technology. This whole-person approach highlights the importance of emotions (affective) and intentions (conative) on learning, in addition to social and cognitive aspects to mass-customize and personalize learning. This newsletter (online version) appears at: http://training.trainingplace.com/newsletter/mar2010.htm. The newsletter index appears at: http://training.trainingplace.com/newsletter/index.htm.

IN THIS ISSUE

It has been awhile, but the Learning Orientation Newsletter is back after several years. This newsletter presents recent educational and neuroscience research advances to highlight implications for educators and educational research. The special topics for this newsletter are NEUROMODULATION AND NEUROTRANSMITTERS. The purpose is to describe the research that explores how neuromodulation affects learning, memory and performance. Recent advances in the neuroscience are revealing the fascinating complexities that influence how each of use our brains to learn.

"In neuroscience, neuromodulation is the process in which several classes of neurotransmitters in the nervous system regulate diverse populations of neurons (one neuron uses different neurotransmitters to connect to several neurons). ...neuromodulatory transmitters secreted by a small group of neurons diffuse through large areas of the nervous system, having an effect on multiple neurons [Learning!]. Examples of neuromodulators include dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, histamine and others." -- Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromodulation

What is Brain Awareness Week? Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is an inspirational global campaign that unites those who share an interest in elevating public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain and nervous system research.

BAW focuses international attention on the field of neuroscience and offers opportunities for teachers and students to engage in fun educational activities. From dynamic classroom presentations and laboratory tours to enlightening museum exhibits and public lectures, BAW activities...

Inspire the next generation of scientists
Contribute to general understanding of basic brain functions
Improve public health by expanding awareness of neurological disorders
Make the connection between increased support for biomedical research and benefits to public health

While BAW takes place each year in March, neuroscience education and outreach is encouraged year-round. Navigate SfN's resources to learn more about the campaign and to assist in the planning of a new activity.

The Dana Alliances also provide BAW partners with a wide-range of resources and services to assist them in planning and implementing their BAW events. Follow the Dana Alliances link to take advantage of the many tools available to you as a partner in the BAW campaign.

This section describes a few of the ongoing research studies using the Learning Orientation Questionnaire (LOQ). The LOQ is a 25-item online survey and is free to researchers doing university-based research projects. In the studies mentioned below, the goal has been to use this understanding of the audience (differentiated by learning orientation) to modify research design and analysis, support and evaluate learning and performance progress, or guide the design and development of the environment and learning solutions.

If you are interested in using the LOQ for university-based research purposes, read more information at: http://www.trainingplace.com/source/research/loqadmin.html

Chu, C. and Tseng, J. (2009-2010). In a Context-Aware Ubiquitous Learning system, students will use PDAs as learning devices around RFIDs, which are location aware devices. When students approach a certain learning object in a physical learning environment, such as a museum, teaching materials will be shown on the PDA to assist the students to learn more about the learning object. To provide more adaptive navigation support for students, researchers will study which navigation support mechanism is suitable for each kind of learning orientation. For this purpose, we will classify the learners by using the Learning Orientation Questionnaire, and evaluate the performance of learners under different kind of navigation support mechanisms. The study is underway at Chung Hua University, Taiwan.

Danilovic, J. (2009-2010). Researcher will examine the learning orientations of Serbian students of foreign languages at the Faculty of Philology and Arts in Kragujevac. Over the years it has become noticeable that students of German are more efficient, hard-working and co-operative than other students, constantly achieving better results on English tests. We hypothesize that students of German, as opposed to others, 1. are more goal-oriented 2. invest more effort in learning 3. are more independent in learning. To test these ideas, we would like to collect data from students of German, as well as other languages, analyze the results statistically, and compare them. The study would have pedagogical implications as it would provide valuable insights into learning orientations, which could possibly lead to changes in the classroom setting, and a more individualized, student-centered approach to teaching, in accordance with students' learning abilities. The study is underway at the Faculty of Philology and Arts Department, Djure Pucara bb.

Gottfredson, C. and Mosher, R. (2007-Present). Bob Mosher and Conrad Gottfredson (faculty) conduct the Performance Support Lab and Seminar offered by the Masie Center. Participants are generally training leaders and instructional developers who are seeking new ways to improve, particularly in the area of performance support. A critical goal for them is achieving a high performance workforce in times of rapid change.Their participant data captured over the past few years and their work is summarized on their blog, entitled Thriving in the New Normal: Learning Orientation and Learning Agility at: http://performancesupport.blogspot.com/2010/02/thriving-in-new-normal.html

Zangyuan, O. (2009). Situated Learning Incorporated into a Web-Assisted Instruction in Nutritional Chemistry Taken by Learners with Learning-Style Differences. Analysis indicates that personalized learning can improve a student’s learning outcome. Students who were involved in their most suitable learning environment obtained very significant learning outcomes. In the personalized web environment, male and Science major students obtained a better learning effectiveness than opposite students. The analytical results indicate that personalized web design is a better model in the e-learning environments. http://www.trainingplace.com/source/research/zangyuan.pdf

4. CURRENT TOPIC: AN EVOLVING UNDERSTANDING OF NEUROMODULATION, NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND HOW THEY INFLUENCE LEARNING

The purpose of this section is to review some of the diverse writings about neuromodulation and neurotransmitters and consider ideas that seem useful in understanding individual learning differences, especially how the brain's chemical activity impacts learning. This section promotes the importance of neuromodulation and neurotransmitter to better understand the combined emotional, social, conative and cognitive influences on learning, memory and performance. "A neuromodulator is a relatively new concept in the field, and it can be conceptualized as a neurotransmitter that is not reabsorbed by the pre-synaptic neuron or broken down into a metabolite. Such neuromodulators end up spending a significant amount of time in the CSF (cerebrospinal fluid), influencing (or modulating) the overall activity level of the brain. For this reason, some neurotransmitters are also considered as neuromodulators. Examples of neuromodulators in this category are serotonin and acetylcholine." -- Wikipedia More at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromodulation

a. Daniel Pink on the Surprising Science of Motivation. On TedTalks, career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don't: Traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories -- and maybe, a way forward. His Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose theme is also reflect in the Learning Orientation Construct.

b. Arts and Neurosciences is an electronic journal aiming to propose a new perspective on empirical studies of aesthetic experience and plastic as well as performative arts, such as cinema, photography, music, dance, comics, video and painting. More at: http://www.arts-neurosciences.org/Home.html

d. SharpBrains announces the new annual Brain Fitness Innovation Awards, designed to foster innovation and best practice sharing by celebrating outstanding pioneers who apply neuroplasticity-based research and tools in the "real world". The awards will recognize organizations that are devising and implementing results-oriented and scalable initiatives that demonstrate their commitment to the brain fitness of their clients, members, patients, students or employees, and showcase innovative uses of non-invasive tools to improve cognitive and emotional functions and "real-world" outcomes.

The next newsletter will highlight latent inhibition. What is it, how can we use this research and what this can mean for more successful personalized learning in the future. Personalization models consider key sources for individual learning differences and the choices learners will make. In the last ten years, discoveries in the neurosciences have revealed the extraordinary complexities of brain activity when interacting dynamically with Replica Rolex Day-Date Watches Online fake rolex Buy rolex sea dweller replica Swiss Rolex Yacht-Master Replicas With Good Quality and Fast Shipping the learning ecosystem. These discoveries highlight more than the cognitive element. They explore the dominant impact of emotions, intentions, and social factors on learning and how learners make choices. Follow this research at: http://www.trainingplace.com/source/research/index.html and http://learningorientation.ning.com/

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1. INTRODUCTION	2. BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK	3. LEARNING ORIENTATION RESEARCH
4. CURRENT TOPIC: NEUROMODULATION	5. PRESENTATIONS/PUBLICATIONS	6. UPCOMING TOPICS

"Helping People Succeed"

IN THIS ISSUE

4. CURRENT TOPIC: AN EVOLVING UNDERSTANDING OF NEUROMODULATION, NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND HOW THEY INFLUENCE LEARNING