I recently read an article on edutopia.org, the George Lucas Educational Foundation site, about Brain-Based Learning. What follows is the last blog about some of their thoughts and tips with my two cents added in.
Tip #4
Work to create a non-static classroom where routines vary, inquiry is valued and hands-on is an everyday occurrence. Make it a place where higher level thinking skills are examined, lectures are limited to less than 10 minutes, and guests are informally invited in.
Include field trips as well as PE, art and music, robotics, and student experts are valued and sought after as ways to stimulate student energy; a place where thinking, working, learning, evaluating and making changes are part of each student’s educational plan.