EDFE WK3 Biological Foundations to develop

What is biological development?

Focuses on our genetics and biological structures, including brain, organs, nervous system and hormonal (endocrine) system.

What is a holistic approach/Educational Psychology:

The ‘whole’ person is made up of three facets of development:

• Biological

• Cognitive

• Socio-Emotional

DNA does what?

Copies itself and contains information for making proteins

A gene is made up of?

a length of DNA on a chromosome

Chromosomes are

A way of compactly storing this gene / DNA

The largest chromosome (C1) contains?

8000 genes

What is genetics?

The study of genetic variation and heredity in organisms

Explain Genetic-Environmental Correlation: (2)

• Family provides genetic information and shared environments and experiences

• Children themselves often seek the experiences matching their genetics

What are the contemporary views in this debate?

• Behavioural genetics might affect complex psychological traits because of multiple genes influences, which create a pre-disposition

• Genetics = Probability Nurture alters how genes will manifest

What is a secular trend?

A fluctuation or trend that has persisted for a certain period of time

The brain and the nervous system cells are called:

Neurons

They store and transmit electrical impulses in the brain via ____

axons

They grow connections and insulate them via ________________

influences of repeated experiences

Myelin does what?

develops around frequently used axons

Are we born with almost all of our neurons?

Yes - 100 billion

What is the largest part of the adult brain?

Cerebral cortex - grey matter

What is a neuromyth?

A misconception generated by a misunderstanding, a misreading, or a misquoting of facts scientifically established by brain research

Why do neuromyths survive?

• Wishful and anxious thinking

• Accessible and perceivably successful in classrooms

How do we avoid neuromyths?

• Scrutiny

• Research into source