By Dr. Kenneth D. Waters, Director of DEI
As Bullis students enter winter break and, for nearly three weeks, leave behind their routine of early morning commutes to campus, 8:00 am classes, assessments to prepare for and take, and extended lunch lines, they may be experiencing a certain level of relief and excitement. Subsequently, with all of this time off, there are a few things to be mindful of, which we academics refer to as brain drainor regression and recoupment.
In education, regression is recognized as a decline in knowledge due to a pause in one’s education, whereas recoupment is the time a student needs to regain their prior knowledge. An article published by EdSurge adds that brain drain negatively impacts a student’s learning curve, specifically their reading skills, when there is a substantial break from school (McDonnell, 2015).
Although classroom lectures, project-based and experiential learning, and other forms of instruction that take place on campus will be on hiatus, that does not mean student learning has to subside as well.
In no shape or form are students expected to follow a normal school day over their break to prevent brain drain or regression. Literature also posits that short pauses in learning can actually reduce a learner’s stress level, while concurrently improving their productivity (Terada, 2018). Researchers from USC and MIT support Terada’s (2018) assertion that rest is essential to one’s mental health and processing (Immordino-Yang, Christodoulou, & Singh, 2012). Moreover, Immordino-Yang et. al.’s investigation on neural processing revealed that when one’s mind is in default mode or focused on the outside world, one can reminisce and reflect on past experiences, envision the future, and find self-worth in society.
Therefore, during this extended break, enjoy the moments of rest, but also consider engaging in activities where your recoupment from brain drain or regression is accomplished at a significantly higher rate.
Below is a list of activities students can engage in to maintain their academic edge while on winter break.
- Download an educational app on your phone or tablet, such as:
- Oxford Dictionary (have a word sent to you daily)
- Math Dash or Operation Math
- Zinio (digital newsstand, with access to millions of magazines and comics)
- Duolingo: Learn a new language or refine your foreign language skills
- Listen to or create a podcast
- Visit a museum
- Limit the use of video game time
- Use social media sparingly
- Write a thank-you letter to someone you appreciate
- Write a poem to someone you admire
- Complete a coloring book
- Volunteer at a senior citizens home or service-oriented organization
- Journal for 10-15 minutes daily
- Alternate between reading a physical and online newspaper on a daily basis
- Create a vision board
- Donate clothes, toys, gadgets, etc. that you do not use
As with anything that does not receive adequate usage or practice, atrophie occurs when the brain is not stimulated. Therefore, as we all transition into the winter break, let’s be mindful about balancing our brain powers with relaxation, mindless activities, and purposefully recharging pursuits.
Happy Holidays!!!
References:
Immordino-Yang, M. H., Christodoulou, J. A., & Singh, V. (2012). Rest Is not idleness: Implications of the brain’s default mode for human development and education. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7(4), 352–364.
McDonnell, M. (2015). How can edtech close the book on summer brain drain?
Terada, Y. (2018). Research-tested benefits of breaks.