Millennial Learning: April 16-17, 2009
Laura Edelman
Learning, Teaching, and the Brain

Dr. Laura Edelman received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oregon and has been teaching at Muhlenberg since 1987. She is currently a Professor of Psychology and chair of the department. Dr. Edelman teaches courses in Sensation & Perception, Cognitive Processes, Statistics, Research Methods, and Advanced Laboratory in Perception and Cognition. Her research investigates preconscious processing of emotionally toned stimuli, college students’ beliefs about the roles of mothers and fathers, how the use of PowerPoint in the classroom affects diverse learners, and music perception. Dr. Edelman has given numerous presentations on the teaching of psychology at regional and national conferences.

Learning, Teaching, and the Brain

Co-presented with Kathleen Harring

James Zull’s (2002) The Art of Changing the Brain provides a model for understanding how student engagement leads to higher order thinking and better understanding of subject material. This session provides a brief overview of the relationship between the learning cycle and the research on the biology of learning, and offers examples of assignments and classroom activities that directly tap into each aspect of the learning process. Participants will have an opportunity to relate their own pedagogies to the distinct components of the learning cycle and share strategies for using the model to help students become more intentional learners.