Exploring the mysteries of the teenage brain
Students and teachers in Warwickshire have been discovering the weird and wonderful world of a complex work in progress – their brains.
A series of recent studies are set to revolutionise the way that people in education approach teenagers.
Advances in neuroscience have allowed much more detailed research to be carried out on the way the teenage brain develops.
The teenage brain is still a ‘work in progress’, a giant construction project. It is a teeming ball of possibilities, raw material waiting to be shaped. Millions of connections are being hooked up; millions more are swept away. A young brain is raw, vulnerable. It’s a brain that’s still becoming what it will be.
Some of the latest findings will be shared with teachers and governors at a Learning Fair, which is being held by Warwickshire County Council’s Education Development Service (EDS).
Sue Herdman, who runs courses on learning to learn, said: “We have been helping students understand their learning brains and some of the factors that make them unique. Being able to explain how the brain works in the context of their lives opens up opportunities for all. Equally some of the findings may challenge our assumptions and raise important questions. We may need to consider that some of the traditions of school life may not be the best way to develop better brains.
“Many of the students we have worked with around the county recognise the bewilderment that comes with the teenage years. They find it very liberating to understand why it is happening, and that helps them devise ways to manage it.”
“For example, the part of the brain that makes sophisticated decisions changes a lot during the teenage years and it really helps the young people to understand why they struggle to make decisions at crucial times such as when they are selecting their A-levels choices.”
Work has been carried out with students across the county, including Stratford High School, Trinity Catholic School, Henley High School and Alcester Grammar School.
The Learning Fair will be held at Manor Hall in Sandy Lane, Leamington on 4 January.