One of the key parts of the brain which focuses attention is
the Reticular Activating System (RAS). Located in a very low region of the
brain, the RAS has the job of filtering all incoming stimuli and making the
decision as to whether we attend or ignore something.
The one that plays the biggest role in the changing dynamic of the teacher -
student instructional struggle is novelty.
Novel means unknown. And what is unknown demands to be known
to the human brain. Once a new experience is known and understood, then we look
to find another unknown to master.
Today's mind, young or old is continuously bombarded with
new and novel experiences. Rather than novel opportunities every few days or
weeks, we now have novelty presented in micro-seconds.
As teachers, how can we be expected to keep pace, let alone
compete with this amazing pace. For a classroom using teacher-centered
instruction, the task is nearly impossible.
clipped from: www.help4teachers.com