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Grant Proposal for the Bryn Mawr 2009 Summer Institutes:

Brain and Behavior

Inquiry Institute 

Title:   Developing Deep Understanding Using Brain-Related Transformation of Power and Human Connections

Goal:  In view of the success of “Culturing the Norm Setters in my Classroom” (Bellwether) last year I plan to extend and enrich my design. Using metacognitive techniques and brain-based biology outlined in the resources offered in the Inquiry and Brain Institute: http://www.newhorizons.org/neuro/zull.htm

http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/Articles/metacognition/start.htm

/exchange/wfrankli/learning

 I will incorporate methods to help students identify the times and situations in science when they approach or achieve deep understanding.  I have developed and will implement a weekly plan that targets student movement and fosters their “ownership” of the room and ultimately the science work that is conducted there. To start students thinking about their own thinking, I am having them construct a “Brain-Drain” paper every day during the 10-15 minutes that I am reviewing during the start of class. They are allowed to doodle, invent, write, create - anything that’s not offensive. I collect it every day and briefly scan and place a check mark on it for validation. I hope to gain insight about their unconscious doodling as they listen to my summaries of our science content. Students will place each Brain-Drain in a separate section of their binder and at the end of the MP they will select their best one to put within the outside plastic, clear-view sleeve of the binder. Besides gaining insight into the student’s thinking process, this collection may also serve as a bridge between us that will offer human and caring connections that are richly valued by teens. They will know that I care and respect their thinking process. This in turn, I predict, will motivate my students to achieve for intrinsic reasons. This process, as described by Zull in The Art of Changing the Brain, could initiate deep understanding. I am very enthusiastic about this research!

 Grant Materials from Brain & Behavior
and Science Inquiry Institute

50 Binders x $2.00 = $100.00

(with a clear view plastic front and back face to put “Brain Drain” papers)

Genetics Kit and extra fast Wisconsin Fast Plants seeds - $ 80.00

Shelves, lights and other materials - & 60.00

Nikon Cool Pix (for student photo documentation) - $ 250.00

Intel Digital Microscope (toy) 200x – $50.00

3 Plastic carts with 5 shelves- $60.00
(for student movement within classroom via document dispersal)

Digital Scale – $50.00

Hot Plate - $ 50.00