22TRA005 Understanding your Brain & Learning Styles: Empowering students to use a Strengths-based approach to Study & Learning

Intended Audience: Teachers (upper primary and second-level), Guidance Counsellors, Study Skills Co-ordinators, students  

This course is empowering for teachers and students. It looks at how the brain works and the learner profile of the students in the class and discusses practical ways that teachers can make every class a ‘learning to learn’ class where students have opportunities to summarise and reflect on their learning.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course participants will:

• understand the brain and the role the different parts play in well-being and learning - the survival brain, the stressed brain, the thinking brain, the contented brain.
• engage in a range of activities to enable the learner to establish their learner profile - their preferred learning style(s) and learning needs.
• discuss the implications for learning and review a range of strategies - active and reflective - to draw on the learner’s innate strengths, empowering them to become independent learners.

Bio of Presenter: Dr Fidelma Healy Eames

Dr. Fidelma Healy Eames, PhD, MSc(Ed), BEd., has a long background in teaching and learning and teacher education.
She began offering ‘Learning to Learn’ and Wellbeing courses to schools and colleges nationally from 2002 with a team of specially trained teachers. In 2007 she published ‘Switching on for Learning: A Student Guide to Exam & Career Success’ which has become a core text for teachers, parents and students interested in independent learning. In 2020 she developed a new blended learning online ‘learning to learn’ programme used across second-level schools, available at https://studyandcareers.ie/switching-on-for-learning/

Her research interests include language, literacy and learning, the writer’s voice, self-esteem and well being. She is currently writing a book on the ‘Gifted Learner, how to help’.

Fidelma’s enduring interest is making learning easier. Passionate about supporting teachers and enabling learners to develop the mindset and skills to take ownership for their own learning, she currently job-shares as a teacher (SEN) and is Director and Lead Educator with Study & Careers.