e-Learning Ecologies MOOC’s Updates

target the RIGHT BRAIN DURING VIRTUAL LEARNING

In my course of training thousands of students on the virtual platform, a key thing I have learnt is the way to use and infuse the metacognition theory into the learning environment

Metacognitive Theory is a theory of knowledge that is interested in how humans can actively monitor and regulate their own thought processes. Metacognition means thinking about thinking. The concept was created by John Flavell in the 1970s. It includes all the processes involved in regulating how we think. Examples include planning out our work, tracking our progress, and assessing our own knowledge. Metacognitive strategies are useful to help us study smarter (not harder) and achieve self-control.

This theory can be used while developing content for virtual learning or event while teaching online. Trainers will do good to target the right brain of people while they are learning online. 

Left-brained people are said to be more:

•analytical
•logical
•detail- and fact-oriented
•numerical
•likely to think in words

While 

Right-brained people are said to be more:

•creative
•free-thinking
•able to see the big picture
•intuitive
•likely to visualize more than think in words

The right brain is indeed the playground

The right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for some of the cognitive functions such as attention, processing of visual shapes and patterns, emotions, verbal ambiguity, and implied meanings. The right brain churns out solutions hence it is the best to use for online learning

The following may be used to target the right brain 

- Use more visual clues rather than text

- Allow students to work collectively

- Use lots of charts, graphs, and maps

- Introduce puzzles, gammes, quizzes, paperwork, study materials, handoutsw

- Promote multi- tasking

- Ask right brain questions, example "What do you see on the screen?"

Ref: https://www.mentalup.co/blog/right-brain-left-brain-test

Ref: https://tomprof.stanford.edu/posting/632