Neuroscience and Education: Foundations, Development, and Applications

EDST 138 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

The field of neuroscience can provide a biological-level description to better understand how students learn and explain individual differences. It can offer an alternative perspective on learning principles, skill development, and learning differences, including their underlying etiologies. At the same time, the application of neuroscience to education is debated. Findings are often misinterpreted or oversimplified, leading to “brain myths,” overgeneralizations, and ineffective and sometimes harmful educational practices and policies.

This course introduces students to the structure and function of the brain, how it develops and changes over time, and the methods used to study brain development and plasticity. Students will learn to critically evaluate scientific evidence related to brain development, “brain-based” educational claims, and commercial “brain training” programs, and will practice identifying and debunking common neuromyths in educational contexts.

Building on these foundations, the course will then address key domains of development central to education, including language, reading, and mathematics, as well as attention and social-emotional development. We will consider both typical developmental trajectories and developmental differences and learning disabilities that are particularly relevant in educational settings, as well as the ways environmental factors can shape or alter these trajectories.

The course has a strong translational focus. Students will connect neuroscientific and developmental knowledge to real-world challenges in classrooms, schools, and education policy. Assessments are designed to emphasize both practical application and critical analysis. Instruction will combine synchronous and asynchronous activities, including lectures, discussions, and instructor-led guided learning tasks.