The Wisdom of Wild Horses: How to Build Connections in the Classroom

Purpose & objective

The objectives of this session are to support educators in building knowledge of the science behind active learning. Attendees will leave with a tool kit of resources for themselves and their classroom that can be adapted to student needs and technology options and will help educators to measure, manage, and teach about neuroscience and how it impacts relationships and learning - for students of any age. We will explore how we interact with students, what it does to the chemistry of their brains and how this impacts students’ ability to learn, including how the right type of tools, used in the right way, can support learning at the highest level of Bloom’s, regardless of what a student enters the classroom with. Educators will have new tools to help their students and themselves understand and manage themselves and their interactions with others. This learning and knowledge sharing will be applicable to all subject areas and grade levels, as well as to adult learning experiences.
In this session, success will look like participants who are themselves actively engaged and empowered throughout the session, feel seen, safe and heard, and who leave with actionable tools and ideas that can be put into place in any classroom immediately.

Outline

The first 30 minutes of the presentation will be focused on building knowledge about mirror neurons, active listening and relationship building. This will be accomplished through delivery using devices and interactive digital activities, as well as having attendees experiment with physical movement, breath work and posture exercises to help them relate to and understand the knowledge and information being shared.

In the next 15 minutes, participants will be encouraged to work in small groups to develop and discuss ideas for their schools or classrooms that support the knowledge that they have acquired. They will be able to work in collaborative digital and physical spaces to brainstorm and draft potential lesson plans or activities that implement and enable some of the practices and strategies discussed.

The final 15 minutes of the session will be for knowledge and resource sharing from participants and presenters, with everyone leaving with tools and easy-to-implement options for any classroom.

Supporting research

Neuroscience and education: from research to practice?

Putting Neuroscience in the Classroom: How the Brain Changes As We Learn | The Pew Charitable Trusts

Neuroscience For Kids

About - Culturally Responsive Teaching & the Brain

CASEL

Horses' Roles in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy: Perspectives of Mental Health Practitioners

Jones, Janet L. Horse Brain, Human Brain : The Neuroscience of Horsemanship. North Pomfret, Vermont, Trafalgar Square Books, 2020.