Today's Neuroscience, Tomorrow's Classrooms

Advances in neuroscience will bring about earlier identification of individual differences in how children learn,  predicted Judy Willis, a neurologist and teacher who is the author of the ASCD books Research-Based Strategies to Ignite Student Learning and Brain-Friendly Strategies for the Inclusion Classroom. Speaking to an audience of hundreds at her session, "What Today's Neuroscience Means for Tomorrow's Classroms," Willis described how scientific knowledge about the brain is growing and speculated about the implications for educators and students.

As individual differences that stem from genetics and brain structure are more readily identified, Willis said, educators will be better able to individualize instruction. Brain scans of children who are just learning to read, for example, might suggest what approach to instruction--what blend of phonics and whole language--would yield the best results for a particular child.

In addition, giving students information about their own brains--helping them to understand their own "brain power"--will enable students to take more ownership and pride in their learning, Willis said.