Raymon+Cao

Find the correct test to use for right brain left brain--ask a psychologist for a reputable test. Give people the test You need 2 different teaching techniques and 2 different sets of things to teach. **Make sure to place citations in your review of literature!!!!!** =Right brained/left brainedness and lifestyle association with teachers' subject area.= Possible Brain Side Dominance tests (will have to double check which ones are credible): [] [] []

-Left hemisphere controls right side and right controls left. -Hand dominance independent of brain side dominance =-Left brain characteristics:= favors verbal instructions problem solves by logic looks at differences planned and structured favors certain information favors multiple choice logical Linear processing: parts to whole, draws conclusions from facts. Sequential proccessing: list, schedules, daily plans, good at spelling. Symbolic processing: letters, words, mathematics symbols, good at m emorizing vocabulary words or math formulas. Logical processing: use information piece by piece to solve problems, logical conclusions from facts. Verbal processing: can express self in words, no problem giving or following verbal instructions. Reality-Based: deals with things the way they are, adjusts to changes in environment, knows rules and follows them. =-Right brain characteristics:= favors demonstrated instructions problem solves by hunches and patterns looks at similarities spontaneous favors open-ended questions enjoys pictures Holistic processing: needs 'big picture' or overview to understand something like a lecture. Random processing: does not finish one task before another, no priorities, struggle with spelling, sensitive to color Concrete processing: needs to see, feel, or touch a real object, prefer to see words in context, hands on activities. Intuitive processing: have a 'gut feeling' for correct answers, pays attention to coherence and meaning rather than details. Nonverbal processing: trouble finding words, uses hand gestures when giving verbal instructions, needs something to be written down or illustrated to remember it. Fantasy processing: not affected by environment, often needs 'reality checks' such as being reminded by a teacher how they are doing in school, more creative, imagines a scene when learning, emotionally involved.

=-Steveson Departments (from faculty/staff directory at d125.org)= (ones in red are ones I will most likely use) Administration Applied arts Athletics Communication arts Driver Education Fine arts Information learning center Information services Mathmatics Operations and program support Physical Welfare PREP Science Social Studies Special Education Students Activities Student services Teaching and Learning World Languages Not sure I want all of these departments. Omitted some because they were repeats. =Survey ideas:= Find e-mentor for idea and credible. Get departments from d125.org Give left right brain test to department head and have them distribute to teachers. Determine brain dominance, record departments

[] [] [] [] [] [|http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=243e0235-d876-4b49-9128-2e254d0c5a1f%40sessionmgr111&vid=8&hid=25&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=ulh&AN=39048614] [|http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=11&hid=25&sid=2651d621-29f0-4616-b0a2-47714e645c57%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=ulh&AN=41130032]


 * Title of Experiment: The Effect of Brain Side Dominance on Teachers' Subject Areas **

**Purpose:** **Hypothesis: (If......then........)** **Procedure:**
 * Determine whether if majority of people specializing in a certain field has a specific dominance for left or right brain. **
 * If teachers in the Applied arts, Athletics, Communication arts, Fine arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and World Languages departments and Stevenson High School are tested for left/right brain dominance, then Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies teachers will be left brain dominant; Fine arts, Communication arts and Applied arts will be right brain dominant; World languages and Athletics will favor both side equally.**


 * 1. Distibute and administer a credible left/right brain dominace test to teachers of each department. The test will not only tell the brain dominance, but also percentages for each side of the brain that show to what degree a certain side is favored if at all. **
 * 2. Also give a survey to teachers asking about skills needed for the class that were researched in the Review of Lit. **
 * 3. Collect results from teachers, the results for the department will be an average of the percents of individual teachers (left brain percentage will be average of all percentage of left brain from teachers and likewise for right). **
 * 4. Analyze results to determine which departments have teachers that are left or right brain dominant or no dominace. **
 * 5. Use results from survey about skills and Review of Lit to explain results. **

**Questions researched in Review of Literature.**
 * How are different sides of the brain different? Similar? **
 * What functions do each side of the brain have? **
 * How does brain dominance contribute to lifestyle, strengths, weaknesses? **
 * What can cause a person to 'favor' one side of the brain over the other? **
 * What subjects do people favoring one side tend to be strong at? **
 * What are some reasons people like or dislike using these methods? **

**Experimental variable:** **Dependent variable:**
 * Suject area of teachers. **
 * Percentages showing dominace, if any, of left and right brain. **

**Materials List (BE SPECIFIC in item description and quantity, who the supplier is, product number, do you need test subjects?, etc.) Put a star by those things that we need to provide. Look at the wiki links for online catalogs.**
 * Credible left/right brain dominace test (to save time and paper, I'm thinking of makeing a google doc to let teachers access and collect results)**
 * Required info/tasks: **
 * -GET REPUTABLE TEST!!!!!!!!!!! **
 * -Find ****e-mentor for help**
 * -Journal Articles??? **
 * -Anatomy of the brain, what might cause dominance? **
 * -Hypothesis should include what departments are tested, what brain dominant for each department. **
 * -Ask teachers about what they need to do, relating to characteristics of left/right brain? **

=Review of Lit:= Left and right sides of the brain have different functions and jobs. While both sides of the brain are active in almost every activity, many people have a "dominant" side, or one side that is more active than the other. The functions of the dominant side can reflect a person's personality, what they like, and what their talents are. Brain side dominance might explain why one person may have an easy time drawing while someone else may be able to do mental math with amazing speed. This dominance can also explain why some people are very strong in one subject area and not another. Many students are shocked when they struggle in one class while they breeze though the curriculum in others. The same goes with adults as well. By exploring brain side dominances, a corralation might be drawn to what subjects one is good at and enjoys.

The left and rights sides of the brain are responsible for different information received by the brain. The left side deals with words(verbal instuctions), logic, black & white, numbers, sequence, analysis, lists, and critical thinking. The right side of the brain deals with images (non-verbal), intuition, color, rhythm, imagination, dreams, dimension and creative thinking. These differences in function lead to characteristics such as favoring verbal or non-verbal instructions, problem solving by logic or intuition('gut feeling'), looking at differences or similarities, and having or lacking a planned and structured schedule. A dominance of one side of the brain over the other causes the person to process information in a way that uses the functions associated with that side of the brain the most. Some different processing methods include, repectively for the left and right brain: Linear vs. Holistic, Sequential vs. Random, Symbolic vs. Concrete, Logical vs. Intuitive, Verbal vs. Non-verbal, and Reality-Based vs. Fantasy-Oriented.

The left-brained processes from part to whole. It collects all the details, facts and evidence, as well as putting them in a logical order, like time or pros and cons. Only after this will the left-brained person make a conclusion. The right brain processes from whole to part. It concentrates on the whole picture or an overview before trying to pick out specific details. Right brained people usually starts with the answer first, then works backwards to determine how they arrived at the answer. The linear vs. holistic can also determine a student's actions in a class. Right-brained students may find it absolutely essental that they read a chapter overview, or ask a teacher to explain a lesson to them after class. Left-brained students can usually follow along very well in class. Also, in writting papers, a right-brained student might write the paper first, then stuggle to put together the outline only because it was required. The left-brained student has no trouble outlining and usually needs an outline to write.

Some people like to make schedules of their day and tasks, while others find it a pain. Sequential vs. Random processing explains this. The left brain like to sequence, or put things in order. A left brained-person finds it helpful to make a list of a daily plan and check off tasks after they are finished. He/she will find it is more productive to keep track of what has been done and what needs to be and will accomplish more in doing so. The left brain is also strong at actions that involving sequencing or following steps, like spelling or a science lab. The right-brained person is much more free in its method of completing tasks. He or she does not finish one task before starting another, and does not set priorities on any particular task, but he or she can get just as much work done this way. The right-brained person also stuggles with assignments that involve sequencing. Spelling or following directions is a constant struggle. He or she almost never turns in an assignment without proofreading for spelling, and needs to make an extra effort to read any type of directions. However, the right-brain's sensitivity to color can aid the person in learning sequencing. He or she might associate a color with each step of a process to remember it much better.

Letters, words, mathematics operations are common symbols one deals with each day. Left-brained people have no trouble dealing with these symbols, leading to a strength in memorizing mathmatical formulas or words. The right-brained people prefer to deal with a tangible object that can be seen, heard, or touched. They learn better seeing words or math formulas used in context and examples rather than memorizing them, and it helps them to use hands-on activities or illustrated notes.

When ask a question in person or on an assignment, some people need to look at all the facts, details, and evidence before giving an answer, while some just have a strong feeling for the correct answer. The left-brain operates on logic, piecing together information to come to a sound conclusion. Because of this, a left-brain person usually has no trouble explaining the steps and why the answer is correct. The right-brain operates intuitively. A right-brain person has a 'gut' feeling for correct answers that can aid him or her on a quiz; however, explain why the correct answer is can be very hard. He or she may have to work backwards from the answer to understand the process. The logical and intuitive ways of thinking also leads to different ways of analysis. The left-brain pays attention to details such as spelling, grammer, punctuation, while the right-brain concentrates on coherence and holistic meaning. This partly explains what causes some people to have great anyalitical skills and other to have more creative skills.

Everyone has experienced a moment where he or she could not find the right word to describe something, but some people more often than others. Those who struggle with using words to express an idea show a right brain characteristic. People who are right-brain dominant usually know what they want to say and just have difficulty expressing themselves is words, whereas the left-brain dominant person has no trouble using words. A good example of this is the way a person gives directions. The left-brained person usually tells people a direction and distance to get to someplace. He or she might also use the names of streets and bulidings to help. The right-brained person,however, will usually point in a direction and buildings and say "this way". In addition to instructions, differences associated verbal and non-verbal processing can also be seen in study skills. Right brain people need to write down information to remember it; left-brained people have no trouble remembering information spoken to them. When writing a paper, right-brained people need a longer time to be able say what want, even though they have no trouble comming up with ideas.

Daydreaming is a favorite pasttime of some, but others rarely do it. Those who enjoy it show a characteristic of the right-brain, which is Fantasy-Oriented Processing. Right-brained people are often not affected by thier enviroment and may not notice something is wrong. They often like to imagine a fantasy world and forget what is actually happening. Therefore, right-brained people needs "reality checks" such as being reminded by a teacher how they are doing in school. Left-brain people do not need these "reality checks", as they are in touch with the rules of reality majority of the time and like to follow them. They might even make thier own rules for situations which have none. Because of this, left-brain people know the consequences of breaking these rules and are aware when they are. Though the fantasy orientation of the right-brain sounds like a negative characteristic, there are also many advantages of it. The right brain is more creative than the left. When learning a new topic, a right-brained person might also imagine a scene that helps them better understand it. Becoming involved by imagining such a scene also helps one to remember the topic.

=**Sources:**= Right Brain and Left Brain Characteristics. //Left Vs. Right. Which side are you on?// Retrived Oct. 27, 2011, from []

Karges-Bone, L. (2008) Left Brain, Right Brain, Get the Most Gain. //New Day Magazine.//Retrived Nov. 2, 2011, from []

Hopper,C. (2003) //Learning Styles.// Retrived Nov. 2, 2011 from []

Hopper,C. (2003) //Differences Between Left and Right Hemisphere//. Retrived Nov. 2, 2011 from