What is neuroeducation and why is it a learning trend

The world of learning has changed, perhaps forever, since the pandemic hit us. Not only virtual classrooms and online learning, the very approach to teaching has changed. Interesting new trends have emerged as educational methods. One such trend that has steadily grown since 2019 through 2020 and 2021 is neuroeducation.  

What is neuroeducation?  
Neuroeducation is where neuroscience, psychology and education come together to create a methodology that is implemented to improve teaching. To understand this concept, we first need to know how our brain works. Our brain contains about 86 billion neurons that create complex neural networks that connect, disconnect and reconnect as we learn to do something, forget or add to it, and relearn again. The first time we try a new activity, the neurons have a weak connection. This gets stronger as we repeat or revisit the activity till the neurons connect strongly and react with such speed that it is automatic. Neuroeducation practices aim at making our brain work better and faster by feeding the correct learning stimulus to trigger neuron reactions. It improves our graded learning curriculum, working memory, intelligence, and creative thinking. 

Why is neuroeducation trending now?  
Neuroeducation became more topical as learning moved online and became a more personalised experience. The focus shifted from the way we teach to the way we learned, and that is what neuroeducation deals with.  For example, classes are now more customised, instead of the former approach of applying the same study plan for everyone in the class. More importance is being given to skills and less to memorisation-based tests. Homework is also more of a guided exercise.  

What is the relation between neuroeducation and remote classes? 
Neuroeducation gives a lot of importance to retaining student attention, encouraging critical and logical thinking, and ensuring that students work because they understand the topic completely, not because it’s part of a syllabus. Remote classes are putting that to use everywhere. Smaller group size, blended learning, gamified learning, using artificial intelligence to drive a point home are all results of this merger between neuroscience and education.