Learn, baby, learn: Resources to help facilitate brain learning and mind changing

Resolving conflict typically requires our learning much, including the parties' positions, interests, and stories. Growing as a conflict professional requires that we be learning about ourselves, too, both in the room and away from sessions. We are not the only ones who need to be learning: When parties are able to move towards resolution, they too have learned. Learning causes changes of both brain and mind. Neuroscience is giving us a growing body of knowledge to help us facilitate that learning.

Because conflict resolution (or any effective communication) requires learning, books on the brain and learning, although written for educators, can very helpful to those facilitating resolution of disputes. A couple of books I have found helpful:

• 12 Brain/Mind Learning Principles in Action: The Fieldbook for Making Connections, Teaching, and the Human Brain
• Introduction to Brain-Compatible Learning
• Brain Matters: Translating Research into Classroom Practice

In addition to these good books, we are lucky to have access to many online resources on the brain and learning. For example:

1) At the Web site of the Caine Learning Institute, the Caines (authors of the first book above) have posted their 12 Brain/Mind Learning Principles. The Principles include:

• Each brain is uniquely organized
• Learning is both conscious and unconscious
• Learning involves both focused attention and peripheral perception
• Complex learning is enhanced by challenge and inhibited by threat

Note (added February 2, 2012): The links to the individual principles no longer work.

2) Click here to see six brain research concepts explained as they relate to learning.

3) Dr. Pat Wolfe (author of third book above) provides many resources at her PatWolfe.com, including some of her articles. One of her articles includes recommendations for educators. I think some apply to practitioners of dispute resolution, too.

• Become literate in the general structure and function of the brain.
• Learn how to determine whether a study is valid or not.
• Begin to incorporate in our [conflict resolution settings] what we have learned about the brain.

4) Serendip provides many good Brain and Behavior links. (Click here to play Prisoners' Dilemma.)

And conferences on the brain and learning can be a good place to get information. For those of you in the San Diego, CA, area, Brains R Us: The Science of Educating is occurring on March 3. (An article about the event from Medical News Today.)

Note (added February 2, 2102): I highly recommend the various conferences offered by Learning & the Brain.

As I find more good brain/learning resources, I will post about them right here at BonP.