Brain-based Learning & the 5Cs

All learners need a "reason" to learn and be in school. Teachers need to have strategies and approaches that effectively engage all types of students in the 5 Learning Channels. You invest time with the 5Cs (compare, contrast, combine, conceptualize, comprehend) because we want teachers to understand what the brain actually does to create meaning and internalize information.

When encountering something new, your brain does certain things to understand it. It will naturally and automatically look for what is familiar (compare) and notice what is not familiar (contrast). You then have to have a "label" for that new knowledge, conceptualizing it. After a while with the new knowledge, you comprehend it and the knowledge has gone to your long-term memory. You then figure out ways to use the knowledge (combine) in your life.

Knowing how the 5Cs work is important because everyone's brain does the same thing to learn. When teachers apply this knowledge to their lessons, and use the ideas behind the Compelling Whys, students will learn more completely.

At the completion of this Module, you will be able to:

• Use the elements of compelling whys and effective multisensory teaching as criteria to design, present, and critique a classroom lesson.
• Identify and explain the cognitive processes in the 5Cs model that a teacher can use to help students process, recall, and apply learned content and skills (compare and contrast, conceptualize, comprehend, and combine).
• Use the 5Cs model to design original lessons for his or her classroom.
• Use the 5Cs as criteria to evaluate existing curriculum materials.
• Generalize this course content to reflect how the multicultural and diverse populations within classrooms have their needs met via the application of the skills, strategies, and knowledge of this course.
• Reflect on and continuously evaluate personal practice, adjust accordingly, and actively seek out opportunities to grow professionally using the knowledge and skills of this course.
• Work collaboratively to share knowledge, skills, and experiences, refine understanding of content, give and receive feedback, and improve expertise.