FutureEd23

FutureEd23

in association with Chartered College of Teaching and CEN

The Place of Educational Neuroscience in Teacher Education
with particular reference to the Early Careers Framework

What is the place of educational neuroscience in teacher education? In England, the early professional development of teachers is framed first by the Core Content Framework for Initial Teacher Education and then by the Early Career Framework. The former focuses on memory, the latter on cognitive load theory. Both present a very partial view of how children learn. This conference seeks to expand teachers' understanding of educational neuroscience and how better teacher education around its potential could have a significant impact on learning.

Tickets cost £175 per person (no VAT).
Student ticket cost £75
Your ticket includes a free copy of “Educational Neuroscience: The Basics” by Professor Michael Thomas and Cathy Rogers (Amazon price £16.99)

PROGRAMME

9:30 am

Coffee & Registration

10:00 am

Chair's opening remarks (welcome and purpose of the day)

10:05 am

Keynote 1 including 10 mins of Q&A

"The Place of Educational Neuroscience in Teacher Education"

Speakers: Professor Paul Howard-Jones, University of Bristol &
Dr Kendra McMahon, Bath Spa University

What is the place of educational neuroscience in teacher education? In England, the early professional development of teachers is framed first by the Core Content Framework for Initial Teacher Education and then by the Early Career Framework (ECF). Kendra will explore how the introduction of scientific perspectives on learning in initial teacher education can unsettle misconceptions about learning and change how we discuss aspects of learning such as the importance of rehearsal and consolidation. Paul will discuss how an understanding of the science of learning has a critical role in the ECF, how some teachers think about key scientific learning concepts found in the ECF and how even modest amounts of professional development on SoL helps displace performative thinking around practice.

We will then open up discussion on what could, and perhaps should, happen next to develop the place of educational neuroscience in teacher education.

10.45 am

Session 1: round-table discussion

11.15 am

Coffee break

11:30 am

Keynote 2 including 10 mins of Q&A

"Delivering Early Careers Framework"

Speakers:

Peter Mather, Head of Training and Development, Teach First Advanced Mentor, Greenford High School

Jeremy Dudman-Jones, Assistant Headteacher Greenford High School

Cara Carey, Development Lead, Teach First Programme Support

12:15 pm

Session 2: round-table discussion

12:45 pm

Lunch

13:30 pm

Keynote 3: including 10 minutes Q&A

"Barriers to learning – a science of learning is incomplete without understanding variability"

One of the key contributions of educational neuroscience is the insight that it brings to the differences that exist between learners. Neuroscience, and the analyses it inspires, can provide us with an understanding of the underlying profiles that exist within the mainstream classroom, and is a necessary step towards designing education systems that are inclusive. The Early Careers Framework includes some work on the science of learning, but this itself is incomplete, not least because it includes no mention of the variability that exists across children and young people. Educational neuroscience has the potential to tell us not just about the mechanisms of learning, but also about the barriers that some face in the classroom.

Speaker:
Professor Duncan Astle, Department of Psychiatry and MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, and Fellow of Robinson College, Cambridge

14:15 pm

Session 3: round-table discussion

14:45 pm

Tea

15:15 pm

Reflections on day
"The interactions between researchers, policymakers, and teachers and introducing the BiG Project"

Speaker:
Michael Thomas, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, Dept of Pyschological Sciences, Birkbeck College, London University, Director of Centre for Educational Neuroscience

15:45 pm

Closing comments and thanks

16:00 pm

Conference ends