- Next certification academic year begins soon, express your interest now
- Six modules, delivered online on Sunday (3 hours/45 Sundays; in total 135 academic hours)
- Multiple-choice exam after each module and a comprehensive exam at the end of the program
- Price: 1995 GBP (Plus VAT) – 50% discount promocode: IANDE50
- Suitable for: nursery, kindergarden and school teachers, special ed. teachers, speech therapists, psychologists and all specialists who work with children with or without developmental, behaviour and/or learning issues
BCPNEd Curriculum is designed and taught by interdisciplinary team of academics and scientists led by Prof Gerry Leisman. Gerry is Israeli neuroscientist educated in Europe and the United States in Medicine, Neuroscience, and Biomedical Engineering at Manchester University. Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering from Union University. Full Professor and Research Fellow at the University of Haifa in Israel. Editor-in-Chief of the journal Brain, Body Cognition. Neuroeducation section editor of the journal Brain Sciences. Author and co-author of numerous scientific publications. Co-author with Dr.Robert Melillo of the bestselling textbook “Neurodevelopmental Disorders: An Evolutionary Perspective”
Courses description:
- Orientation to Neuroeducation
- The Neuroscience of Learning (incorporating learning and memory)
- Interventional Strategies in Neuroeducation
- Applied Electrophysiology for the Neuroeducator
- Brain-Based Neuroevaluation for Schools
- Resources for Neuroeducators (incorporating gaming systems for cognitive intervention)
1. Orientation to Neuroeducation
In recent years, interdisciplinary studies focused on the neuro-diversity of the human mind have produced findings that are informing the work of teachers, trainers, leaders, and entrepreneurs in education and business settings. This research has led to the emerging field of Neuroeducation. This module introduces the participant to the study of various central tenets of Neuroeducation. The module includes five sections in which we first explore some major themes in Neuroeducation that inform teaching and learning. Next, we explain some common misconceptions of research, often referred to as neuromyths. In the third section, participants learn some fundamental information about how the brain works—its structure and functions. Next, we take a journey through the instructional framework, which provides a cohesive structure for applying relevant findings to educational settings at all levels of instruction. Finally, we provide research on the model’s effectiveness and share the words of educators who have enhanced their practice.
By the end of the module you will be able to:
- Describe how Neuroeducation can influence teaching and learning
- Identify the major themes in Neuroeducation that inform teaching and learning
- Explain common misconceptions of research from the learning sciences, referred to as neuromyths.
- Identify fundamental structure and functions of the brain.
- Apply concepts learned to real world experiences.
2. The Neuroscience of Learning (incorporating learning and memory)
This Module provides an overview of the neuroscience of learning through mind, brain, health, and education science or the intersection of psychology, cognitive neuroscience, health, and education. Fundamental biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors are introduced with an emphasis on critical functions related to learning and achievement across settings, age groups and concepts, such as epigenetics, sensitive periods, and neuroplasticity. In addition, factors that facilitate and roadblocks that inhibit optimization of learning are explored as we discuss key cognitive constructs (language, attention, memory, executive functions, and affect/emotions) with special attention to comparative cultural influences on neurocognitive processes.
By the end of the module you will be able to:
- Explore the dynamic interplay of genes and environment.
- Examine the big picture of brain development from the prenatal period through adulthood, including the dynamic development of the mind and brain.
- Highlight the dramatic role supportive environments can play in development and well being.
- Learn about brain research tools including neuroimaging.
- Consider the impact of health, including protective and risk factors (e.g., physical activity, toxic stress), on development, learning, and well being and the potential of neuroplasticity.
- Translate key course teachings into student’s’ own personal and professional practice.
3. Interventional Strategies in Neuroeducation
Educators are tasked with the ever-increasing demands in providing high-quality, individualized instruction for all types of learners in their classrooms. While educators are usually open to having many types of learners in their classrooms, research has shown that most educators do not feel they are well equipped to meet the demands that this cognitive diversity in the classroom presents. The individual differences that educators face every day require them to have an understanding of how to best meet children where they are and to provide instruction and guidance to maximize the learning experience of every child. This module is designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of educational professionals related to brain-behavior relationships as well as research related to instruction, assessment, and intervention that will help cognitively diverse learners. Educators are facing diversity in the classroom at rates they may not have anticipated; as such, we want to arm educators with the tools and information they can use to maximize the educational experience and learning outcomes for every child they meet. This course will examine pedagogical practices from a neuroscientific and psychological framework and will provide students with skills to evaluate current research in the field. It will also cover best practices for conducting school-based research and designing school-based research studies to maximize impact and outcomes for learners.
By the end of the module you will be able to:
- Know how to establish a community of engaged learners based on knowledge of brain/behavior relationships.
- Acquire a foundational knowledge of typical and atypical brain development to better understand the children and youth in their classrooms.
- Obtain skills and information to better serve students in a variety of settings.
- Obtain evidence-based strategies for instructional delivery and individualized teaching.
- Develop methods to facilitate critical consumers of knowledge and research in the areas of education and the neurosciences.
- Create new processes to integrate basic and cognitive-science knowledge through translational strategies.
- Promote flexibility and innovation in instruction design based on cognitive neuroscientific findings
- Explore more precisely the nature of creativity and apply it to encourage the transfer of knowledge and skills.
- Enhance cognitive development at all ages
- Support advocacy with new evidence
- Address individualized learning differences.
4. Applied Electrophysiology for the Neuroeducator
The course is a good first step toward understanding applied psychophysiology (bio/neurofeedback). With hands-on experience you can make informed choices about moving forward with biofeedback for professional use. This basic skills course covers foundational science, application and practical tips for integrating biofeedback in practice. Learn biofeedback history from laboratory to clinical practice, assessment, sensor application and training protocols for biofeedback applications. Students will understand the stress response continuum and how the nervous system interactions and influences cognition and behavior. Learning materials will be available online and during the course. Students will experience psychophysiological assessment and learn to use several different clinical grade and personal (consumer) biosensors. Successful students will receive a separate certificate of completion in addition to certification for the overall program.
By the end of the module you will be able to:
- Learn mechanisms of neurophysiological self-regulation and how specific patterns of dysregulation lead to physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms.
- Gain experience with neurofeedback instrumentation that exercises the brain’s mechanisms of self-regulation and improves brain function.
- Learn about assessment tools that allow new insight into the student’s cognitive issues and guide neurofeedback training
- Empower students to function better and increase their ability to benefit from other therapies.
- Understand and experience applied psychophysiology. Coach biofeedback trainees using temperature, skin conductance, heart-rate-variability and electromyography toward measurable improvement.
- Place biosensors on the body
- Identify normal and abnormal response patterns
- Identify behavioral patterns
- Identify artifacts caused by movement, light and or pooling
- Formulate training protocols
5. Brain-Based Neuroevaluation for Schools
The purpose of this course is to teach the skills necessary for individual cognitive assessment of children and adolescents. Competent skills for the neurocognitive assessment of children, adolescents and adults will be provided. This course integrates the skills of administration and scoring of major cognitive assessment instruments (i.e., WISC-V, WAIS-IV, WJ-IV COG) in the context of recent neurocognitive theories and research. The Cattell-Horn-Carroll Theory of Cognitive Abilities will be contrasted with other conceptualizations of intelligence. The topic of Learning “Disorders” will be introduced along with historical, conceptual and relevant clinical issues. The APA/AERA Ethics Codes and Professional Standards pertinent to testing and dissemination of test results will be discussed along with educational, employment and social implications of assessment and development of communication skills and appropriate interventions. Issues of assessing culturally and linguistically diverse individuals will be integrated throughout the course.
By the end of the module you will be able to:
- Understand the history and currents trends in understanding cognitive ability of the learner
- Assess cognitive abilities and how cognitive testing fits into overall assessments of the function of the learner in school.
- Understand the value in multi-method neurocognitive assessments relevant to classroom performance
- Understand what cognitive tests measure, as well as their limitations
- Understand issues of diversity in cognitive assessment, including cultural and language diversity
- Competently administer some key measures of neurocognitive function
- Accurately score these tests and convey an understanding of the importance of accuracy.
- Demonstrate basic interpretive skills suitable for this level of training
- Demonstrate an ability to apply new skills in administration, scoring and interpretation to independent learning of other tests
6. Technological resources for Neuroeducators
This course based on the national and state educational technology standards is designed to prepare teachers to integrate technology into the curriculum. This course will focus on the effective use of technology in teaching and learning reflecting the neurocognitive needs of the learner.
By the end of the module you will be able to:
- Practice and expand personal use of various kinds of hardware and software.
- Use technology in the design of curriculum for constructivist teaching and learning.
- Apply cognitive neuroscientific and learning theory to evaluate quality technology experiences.
- Make informed decisions about social and ethical issues involving technology.
- Develop strategies and commitment to explore new and emerging educational technologies.
- Apply instructional and curricular materials into virtual and gaming environments