| Did you know the brain's Mothership of all Thinking and a computer's microchip have more in common than generally understood? Did you know that we are already at the Fourth Education Revolution? Did you know that both the brain's hardware and software is upgradable? This is why you should attend the DARE2TEACH differently Education Summit on 26 October 2024 at the Eduvos University, Pretoria. Mirror neurons in the brain activate when we observe others performing an action, allowing us to mentally simulate it. For example, when watching a soccer match, your brain mirrors the player's movements—kicking, passing—although you aren’t physically engaged. At the same time, inner speech chimes in: “Pass to the left, now shoot!” This mental dialogue reflects your internal processing of the game's strategies and decisions, reinforcing your understanding. When seeing someone eating a lemon, mirror neurons in your brain activate, making you mentally simulate the action. You might even wince or imagine the sour taste, as your brain mirrors the experience. This response occurs even though you aren’t the one eating the lemon, illustrating how mirror neurons help you empathize with and understand the actions and sensations of others. This reaction bridges observation and internal experience, reinforcing the brain's capacity to simulate and reflect on observed behaviors. In the classroom, this interplay between mirror neurons and inner speech is crucial for learning. In traditional teaching, where students passively observe problem-solving, mirror neurons and inner speech aren’t fully engaged, limiting students' internalization of the process. However, when teachers encourage students to think aloud and actively engage, both inner speech and mirror neurons are activated, allowing students to mentally simulate and reflect on the process. EI helps teachers sense students' emotional and cognitive states and guide them accordingly. Teachers with strong empathy, self-awareness, and social awareness can adjust their methods to better support students, activating mirror neurons through demonstration and encouraging inner speech. These reflective processes drive neuroplasticity, enabling deeper understanding and independent problem-solving. In contrast, traditional teaching methods—where teachers present information and solve problems for students—underutilize mirror neurons and inner speech. This passive approach limits critical thinking and cognitive growth. Thinking Tools teachers, on the other hand, promote independent thinking, enhancing mental strategy development. By encouraging students to mirror cognitive processes and engage in inner speech, these teachers create a dynamic, interactive learning environment that fosters both neuroplasticity and emotional intelligence. The concepts of inner speech and mirror neurons are deeply tied to self-directed learning (SDL). Inner speech allows learners to engage in reflective thinking, which is crucial for self-regulation and independent problem-solving. As students observe actions (like a teacher solving a problem) and mirror those processes through their neurons, they internalize strategies that help them guide their own learning. This fosters the skills necessary for self-directed learning, where learners take responsibility for their education, using reflection and simulation to improve their thinking and performance. |
Inner Speech and Mirror Neurons Transform Learning
