MANAGING ANG

CARING FOR THE

SELF
LEARNING TO BE A BETTER
STUDENT
HOW LEARNING HAPPENS IN THE HUMAN BRAIN
Brain is an enormous network of neurons. Each tiny neuron is a pretty
complicated little machine. Each neuron connects with many other neurons. It
“listens” for electrical and chemical signals from other neurons and fires its own
signal, an action potential, when it receives enough input from the neurons that
connect to it. The action potential gets “heard” by other neurons and influences
their firing as well. Put together billions and billions of these neurons into a
network; wire up some of the inputs to senses like vision, touch, and hearing; wire
up some of the outputs of muscles and you get an amazingly complex system
capable of thought, learning, memory,
and emotion
How the Brain Learns
Neuroscientists have long believed that learning and memory formation are
made by the strengthening and weakening of connections among brain cells.
Recently, researchers at the University of California Irvine’s Center for the
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory proved it. In experiments with mice,
they were able to isolate and observe the actions of the brain while learning a
new task. Researchers found that when two neurons frequently interact, they
form a bond that allows them to transmit more easily and accurately. This leads
to more complete memories and easier recall. Conversely, when two neurons
rarely interacted, the transmission was often incomplete, leading to
either a faulty memory or no memory at all.
Another recent study at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging,
Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and
Harvard Medical School found that the structural core of the brain
receives sensory information from different regions and then
assembles bits of data into a complete picture that becomes a memory
of an event. This memory is strengthened by multiple sensory inputs.
For example, if we both see and hear something, we are more likely to
remember it than if we only hear it.
Another recent study at the Martinos Center for Biomedical
Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General
Hospital and Harvard Medical School found that the structural core
of the brain receives sensory information from different regions and
then assembles bits of data into a complete picture that becomes a
memory of an event. This memory is strengthened by multiple
sensory inputs. For example, if we both see and hear something, we
are more likely to remember it
than if we only hear it.
METACOGNITION AND STUDY STRATEGIES

The brain serves as the control unit of the body. Human beings’ physiological,
behavioral and cognitive functions depend on it. The brain can perform many
forms of complex and covert behaviors like thinking and other higher order
functions like metacognition.

Metacognition is often defined as “thinking about your own thinking.”

Cognition- means thinking
Meta- thinking
Metacognition consists of two components
1. Metacognitive knowledge
2. Metacognitive Regulation
Metacognitive knowledge has three types.

1. Declarative knowledge
2. Task knowledge
3. Conditional knowledge
MANAGING YOUR OWN LEARNING: SELF-REGULATED LEARNING

In the Self-Regulated Learning model, pioneered by Barry Zimmerman, self-

regulation is composed of three phases: forethought, performance control and
self-reflection. In the first phase, (forethought) the self regulated student expects
and prepares for the approaching learning task. Then in the second
stage(performance control) the student organizes and performs the procedures
while learning. This consists of self-talk and self-monitoring to make the most of
the learning opportunity. In the last phase, (self-reflection) the self-regulated
student reflects at the end of the learning task. The student matches the result of
their performance to their objectives.