Uncommon Sense Teaching: Part 2, Building Community and Habits of Learning from Coursera

In Part 2 of Uncommon Sense Teaching: Building Community and Habits of Learning, you will explore the following areas more deeply—helping you to connect with the latest insights into research and have fun while you are doing it!

• The hidden strengths of neurodiversity: Dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and

other syndromes that relate to learning

• The value of forgetting

• How to use habits formed by the procedural system to help you with classroom management

• Judicious use of rewards to motivate students (too many rewards can de-motivate)

• How to avoid educational fads

• The power of lesson plans

This is like no other course on teaching—it weaves late-breaking insights from neuroscience with personal insights from the classroom to provide unexpected, yet practical, new approaches. You’ll discover how to bring out the best from all your students in today’s diverse teaching environment, where students often have a wide range of abilities.

Uncommon Sense Teaching will take your teaching to a higher level for whatever subjects you teach, whether math, physics, literature, dance, art, or anything else; and whether you are teaching K-12, university, business, vocational, or at home.

Join us today to move into the new era of education!

What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1: Motivation, Stress, and Character Change

This week’s materials cover motivation, stress, and character change—vitally important topics for us as teachers. We’ll learn about the importance of surprise in learning—part of what can make good teaching both surprising and rewarding! We’ll also discover why we like to say that “Curiosity is Queen” —and why being taken by surprise can be a very good thing when it comes to learning. We’ll also learn about the “Drama King"—that is, the amygdala—which can underpin some of our subconscious biases. And we’ll begin setting the stage to understand why cramming is so effective. At least, for short periods of time! Neuroscience is uncovering new insights about motivation. This brings us to a seemingly different area—unreachable, unteachable students who can tell you exactly what you want to hear, without any internal motivation for change no matter what you may do to try to motivate them. Perhaps surprisingly—bullying isn’t just a problem for students—it can actually be a problem amongst teachers themselves, with some of the best teachers bearing the brunt of the bullying behavior. But guess what—sometimes our best approach to help students sail successfully through stressful situations in life is to simply do what we teachers are born to do—teach with passion and with heart. All this, and more, in this week’s videos!

Week 2: How to Reach and Teach Both Procedural and Declarative Pathways

This week, we’ll learn how the brain decides whether to make some mental or physical task conscious or nonconscious—it all depends on how often we do it! We’ll also be sneaking in through both the front and back doors of the brain’s different learning systems. Of course, both declarative and procedural ways of learning can have advantages and drawbacks. But as we’ll see, having information deposited in procedural sets of links can be like having a nicely wrapped package of movements or thoughts that a student's working memory can automatically grab onto, instead of having to think through each tiny movement or thought individually. This can not only speed students’ learning—it can even make classroom management easier. Using the magic of the procedural system, your classroom can run like a well-oiled machine, seemingly without you doing anything!

Week 3: Intellectual Humility, Critical Thinking, and Bias

This week is full of surprises as we dig deeper into the advantages and disadvantages of faster and slower types of learning. Who knew that those who struggle with their learning—our hikers—can actually be more accurate with what they learn? For them, it can be easier to flexibly accept and change their minds when the data shows they are wrong. On the other hand, our race cars, who can learn faster and remember better, can also find it difficult to accept when they’re wrong. And all this relates in a very deep way, as you’ll see, with our ability to think critically. Join us as we explore all these ideas, and more, in this week’s videos! (And don’t forget, there’s plenty of optional extra info in the readings!)

Neurodiversity, Student Groups, and Charting Your Course to the Finish Line!

Syndromes such as dyslexia or attention deficit disorder can sometimes exert subtle effects that can make learning more difficult even though no diagnosis has been made. Other times, as with famed director Steven Spielberg and his dyslexia, a student's learning challenges can simply escape detection altogether. For teachers of these students, the best approach is to nurture these students’ ways of learning, rather than forcing them to learn like the majority of other students. Surprisingly often, this involves teaching more toward the procedural system for some students, and more toward the declarative system for others. All of this means that careful planning of your lessons is in order. What do we mean by careful planning? That's the subject of our final videos--we'll give you a template and insights to help guide your activities and allow you to soar in your teaching!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops learner's understanding of different ways individual's learn

Harness recent findings in neuroscience to improve teaching practices

Taught by three renowned professors with expertise in neuroscience, psychology, and education

Provides practical strategies for creating a positive and supportive learning environment

Applicable to a wide range of teaching contexts, from K-12 to higher education

Requires students to actively engage with the material through discussions and assignments

Career center

Learners who complete Uncommon Sense Teaching: Part 2, Building Community and Habits of Learning will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Educator

As an Educator, you work to cultivate the intellectual curiosity and academic skills of individuals across the age spectrum. In this role, you can use your strong knowledge of how students learn and your ability to engage effectively with different teaching styles to nurture the academic and developmental growth of your learners. If you seek a career where you can make a tangible impact on the lives of students and engage with a diverse range of individuals, teaching may be a great option for you. This course, focusing on the latest developments in teaching methods, can help take your teaching to the next level, no matter your subject area or level you teach. With a mastery of the techniques outlined in this course, you can create a classroom environment that is inclusive, engaging, and effective for all your students.

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Educational Psychologist

As an Educational Psychologist, you work in schools or clinics to help students overcome learning and developmental challenges. In this role, you apply your knowledge of educational theory and child psychology to assess students' needs and develop strategies to help them succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. If you have a passion for helping all students reach their full potential, you may find this career is well-suited to you. The course will provide you with practical techniques and approaches that can be used to build strong learning communities and habits within the classroom.

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Instructional Designer

As an Instructional Designer, you collaborate with educators and subject matter experts to develop, implement, and evaluate learning materials and programs. In this position, you will use your strong understanding of teaching and learning principles to create engaging and effective learning experiences. If you are interested in a career that combines your interest in education with your creativity, instructional design can be a rewarding path. This course may help you better understand the needs of learners, especially in relation to creating engaging and effective learning materials for diverse learning environments.

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Learning Specialist

As a Learning Specialist, you work with students who have learning disabilities or other challenges that affect their academic progress in schools or private practice. In this position, you use your knowledge of learning theory and educational assessment to identify students' needs and develop individualized learning plans. If you are interested in a career where you can make a real difference in the lives of struggling learners, you will likely find this position very rewarding. The practical techniques and approaches you gain in this course will allow you to cultivate inclusive learning environments where all students can thrive.

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Curriculum Developer

As a Curriculum Developer, you are responsible for designing, developing, and evaluating учебные программы and materials for educational institutions. In this position, you will use your knowledge of teaching and learning principles to create учебные программы that are aligned with educational standards and the needs of students. If you are passionate about education and curriculum design and have a creative mind, this may be the perfect career for you. This course may be especially helpful in equipping you with strategies to address the diverse needs of students as well as how to critically evaluate the effectiveness of different approaches to teaching and learning.

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Education Consultant

As an Education Consultant, you provide expertise and guidance to educational institutions and organizations on a range of issues, such as curriculum development, instructional design, and assessment. In this role, you will use your knowledge of teaching and learning principles to help schools and other organizations improve their educational practices. You may also provide training and professional development to educators. If you are passionate about education and have a strong understanding of teaching and learning, you may find this career very rewarding. This course can provide you with advanced teaching and learning strategies that you can share with your clients.

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School Administrator

As a School Administrator, you oversee the day-to-day operations of a school, including managing staff, developing budgets, and ensuring that the school meets educational standards. In this role, you will use your leadership skills and your knowledge of education to create a positive and productive learning environment for students. This course can enhance your skillset by helping you to develop effective strategies for motivating students, managing staff, and communicating with parents and the community.

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Higher Education Administrator

As a Higher Education Administrator, you oversee the day-to-day operations of a college or university, including managing staff, developing budgets, and ensuring that the institution meets educational standards. In this position, you will use your leadership skills and your knowledge of higher education to create a positive and productive learning environment for students. This course can help prepare you for this role by teaching you the latest teaching and learning strategies as well as providing you with insights into the unique challenges and opportunities in higher education.

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Educational Researcher

As an Educational Researcher, you conduct research on a range of topics related to teaching and learning. In this role, you will use your research skills to investigate how students learn, how teachers teach, and how schools can be improved. If you are passionate about education and have a strong research background, this may be the perfect career for you. This course can help you build a solid foundation in educational research methods and theories.

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Education Policy Analyst

As an Education Policy Analyst, you analyze and evaluate education policies at the local, state, and federal levels. In this role, you will use your research skills to assess the impact of education policies on students, teachers, and schools. If you are interested in education policy and have a strong analytical background, this may be the perfect career for you. This course can help you to develop strong analytical skills as well as an understanding of the current landscape of education policy.

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Instructional Coach

As an Instructional Coach, you work with teachers to improve their teaching practices. In this role, you will use your knowledge of teaching and learning to provide teachers with feedback, support, and professional development. If you are passionate about teaching and have a strong desire to help other teachers succeed, this may be the perfect career for you. This course can provide you with practical strategies and approaches for supporting teachers in their professional development.

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Teacher

As a Teacher, you work with students to help them learn and grow academically, socially, and emotionally. In this role, you will use your knowledge of teaching and learning to create a positive and productive learning environment for students. If you are passionate about teaching and have a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people, this may be the perfect career for you. This course can teach you effective teaching strategies that you can immediately put into practice in any teaching environment regardless of the grade level or subject area you teach.

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Education Nonprofit Program Manager

As an Education Nonprofit Program Manager, you oversee the development and implementation of education programs for a nonprofit organization. In this role, you will use your knowledge of teaching and learning to create and manage programs that meet the needs of the community. If you are passionate about education and have a strong desire to make a difference in the lives of others, this may be the perfect career for you. This course can help you develop the skills you need to successfully manage and implement education programs in a nonprofit setting.

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Education Technology Specialist

As an Education Technology Specialist, you work with teachers and students to integrate technology into the classroom. In this role, you will use your knowledge of teaching and learning to help teachers use technology to improve student learning. If you are passionate about education and have a strong interest in technology, this may be the perfect career for you. This course can help you stay up-to-date on the latest educational technologies while also providing you with practical strategies for using technology to support teaching and learning.

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