Tenacious educational neuromyths: Prevalence among teachers and an intervention

Previous neuroscience exposure predicts self-efficacy among undergraduate students

BACKGROUND

Academic self-efficacy refers to undergraduates' beliefs in their abilities to execute the necessary actions to meet academic goals. Studies suggest that academic self-efficacy is essential to undergraduates' development, affecting their integration, motivation, and academic success. Research also indicates that understanding general neuroscience concepts can shape the motivation to overcome challenges and succeed in the educational setting. However, the relationship between self-efficacy in higher education and exposure to neuroscience is still under-researched in the scientific literature. This study aims to examine prior exposure to neuroscience and identify predictors of self-efficacy among undergraduate students.

METHODS

Data from 303 undergraduates were collected through online surveys, covering information on sociodemographics and prior exposure to neuroscience (i.e., no exposure, extracurricular neuroscience courses, neuroscience-related classes, and both). Additionally, a general neuroscience knowledge questionnaire was conducted to ascertain students' familiarity with the subject, and the Higher Education Self-Efficacy Scale (HESE) was used to measure perceptions of self-efficacy within the context of higher education. Descriptive and inferential analyses (t-test and one-way ANOVA) compared general neuroscience knowledge and HESE scores between groups, while linear regression identified HESE predictors.

RESULTS

Performance on the general neuroscience knowledge questionnaire was consistent across gender, institution type, and field of study, but there was a significant difference among the levels of exposure to neuroscience (F(3,299) = 8.45, p < 0.001, η² = 0.08). Self-efficacy was higher in private institution students (t(301) = 4.07, p < 0.001, d = 0.66) and those with more neuroscience exposure (i.e., both neuroscience-related classes and extracurricular neuroscience courses) (F(3,299) = 3.73, p = 0.01, η² = 0.04). Regression models indicated institution type (i.e., private) and neuroscience exposure (i.e., neuroscience-related classes, and both neuroscience-related classes and extracurricular neuroscience courses) as significant self-efficacy predictors (adjusted R² = 0.07, F(5,297) = 5.21, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The results present novel findings for the field of neuroeducation, highlighting the significant relationship between previous exposure to neuroscience and increased self-efficacy in undergraduate students. The study emphasizes the need for neuroeducation programs for undergraduates, equipping them with tools to support their academic success and personal well-being.

Early childhood educators' use of neuroscience: Knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and professional learning

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of early brain development is increasingly important in early childhood education, but no studies have focussed solely on the neuroscience knowledge and attitudes of early childhood educators.

METHODS

524 Australian early childhood educators completed a survey measuring their neuroscience knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy, sources of knowledge, and perspectives on training needs.

RESULTS

Although educators held relevant understandings, there was widespread belief in 'neuromyths'. Participants held strong positive attitudes toward neuroscience regardless of their socio-demographic background. Participants who held a Bachelor degree or higher, and those in a leadership position, had higher neuro-literacy and self-efficacy. Less than a quarter reported receiving adequate neuroscience content in their pre-service training.

CONCLUSION

While there is a policy mandate and positive attitudes toward using neuroscience in early childhood education, the sector is currently hampered by limited pre-service training content, and inadequate in-service professional learning. Further transdisciplinary work is required to address these gaps.

In-service teachers' neuroscience literacy in Hungary: A large-scale cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

This is the first study that assesses neuroliteracy, namely the prevalence of neuromyths (NMs) and general knowledge about the brain (GKAB) among Hungarian in-service teachers.

METHOD

Participants (n = 734) completed an online survey, adapted from a widely used neuroliteracy questionnaire. A scoping review was conducted for international comparison. Associations between prevalence of NMs and predictor factors were analyzed by logistic regression.

RESULTS

The NM error score was 59.7 %, while the correct response score to GKAB was 77.1 %. Compared with other countries, we found the fifth highest level of NM endorsement, but the third most favorable score in GKAB. Acceptance of NMs was significantly associated with reading scientific journals and perceived neuroliteracy.

CONCLUSION

Hungarian in-service teachers are more likely to believe in neuromyths (especially those related to motor functions) compared with most other countries. Further studies should investigate the impact of the prevalence of motor therapies on the belief in NMs.

Promoting the internationalization of POPNeuro, a successful neurophysiology outreach program

Here we report a successful initiative between Brazil and Germany to stimulate neuroscience outreach: the POPNeuro Program. The POPNeuro Program is a neuroscience outreach project created in Brazil that has been active for >10 years. It was initiated in Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil and linked to the Physiology Research Group from the Federal University of Pampa. The neuroscience dissemination was developed mainly in school environments by a team that includes neuroscientists and university undergraduate and graduate students. One of the key focuses of POPNeuro is to identify and avoid the dissemination of neuromyths (misconceptions generated by a misunderstanding, a misreading, or a misquoting of scientific facts). After an initial research cooperation, the Brazilian and German teams decided to replicate some of the POPNeuro activities in Germany. The POPNeuro spin-off developed the first activities in Germany, including neuroscience disclosure activities during the Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC) Open Campus Day and a Neuroscience of Learning course for sports and physical education teachers. During the activities, participants took a quiz to identify the prevalence of neuromyths and knowledge of neuroscience facts. The results demonstrate a high prevalence of neuromyths between the different participants. Despite the sociocultural differences, these results are in line with previous results from POPNeuro in Brazil. Considering our experience and the participants' evaluations, we are confident that promoting the internationalization of this successful neurophysiology outreach program and expanding the Brazilian POPNeuro program in Germany will have a positive impact. This initiative represents a model of international cooperation that should be stimulated.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The internationalization of scientific work is recognized as an essential resource for quality research in different areas and countries. However, international cooperation is less common in teaching and outreach than in research. We shared the experience of a successful international neurophysiology outreach cooperation between Brazil and Germany: the POPNeuro Program. The success of POPNeuro's spin-off in Germany reveals that promoting internationalization and expanding successful outreach projects have positive impacts.

Neuromyths: Misconceptions about neurodevelopment by Italian teachers

BACKGROUND

Neuromyths are commonly held misconceptions about the brain, often generated by a misunderstanding of scientifically established facts. To date, limited research has explored the pervalence of neuromyths about neurodevelopmental disorders in the teacher population.

METHOD

The current study investigated the prevalence of teachers' general and neurodevelopmental neuromyths among 820 Italian teachers.

RESULTS

Italian teachers correctly identified 73% of general neuromyths and 70% of neurodevelopmental neuromyths. The difference between general and neurodevelopmental neuromyths endorsement was significant. Frequency of accessing relevant information emerged as a protective factor. A mediation analysis showed that higher need for cognition was significantly associated with a higher frequency of accessing relevant information about the brain, which in turn led to lower endorsement of neuromyths.

CONCLUSION

In line with our findings, we suggest that teachers can benefit from neuroeducation initiatives aimed to enhance neuroscience literacy in both the initial education and continuous professional development of teachers.

Neuromyths and knowledge about intellectual giftedness in a highly educated multilingual country

Introduction

Understanding brain functioning and intellectual giftedness can be challenging and give rise to various misconceptions. Nonetheless, there seems to be a widespread fascination and appetite for these subjects among the lay public and diverse professionals. The present study is the first to investigate general knowledge about the brain, neuromyths and knowledge about giftedness in a highly multilingual and educated country.

Methods

Starting from and extending two seminal studies on neuromyths, several novel statements on intellectual giftedness have been included in order to explore knowledge and misconceptions concerning giftedness. Our sample (N = 200) was composed of Luxembourgish education professionals, including students in educational science and cognitive psychology, thus allowing to analyze responses in general and according to training and professional profiles. Specifically, Group 1 consisted of teachers and futures teachers (n = 152). Group 2 consisted of other education professionals and psychology students (n = 48).

Results

Despite the size and the unbalanced distribution of the sample, our findings indicate a good level of general knowledge about the brain and learning (71.3% of correct responses in average) which does, however, not preclude the presence of the typically observed original neuromyths. Thus, we replicate the classical finding that misconceptions on Learning Styles (70% of error rate) and the Multiple Intelligence Theory (71.5% of error rate) are the most represented, both in (future and in-service) teachers and other education professionals. Moreover, the present sample also revealed a high presence of misconceptions on intellectual giftedness.

Discussion

Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Prevalence of neuromyths among psychology students: small differences to pre-service teachers

Neuroscience will possibly aid the educational practice but neuromyths are prevalent worldwide. Certain misconceptions about learning, memory and the brain are prevalent in different groups and hard to dispel. Bridging the gap might be too far. However, Psychology may serve as a bridge between these distant fields. The present study examined neuromyth endorsement in psychology students. An online questionnaire based on 20 neuromyths and 20 neurofacts was used. Additionally, neuroscience exposure at university and media exposure was assessed. The sample consisted of psychology students (N = 116) in Austria and was compared to a teacher-training sample. The different groups were compared using Signal Detection Theory, Chi-square test, non-parametric correlation analyses, and independent sample t-test. No correlation between neuroscience exposure at university and leisure time for psychology students at the beginning of their studies could be found. Here, the same misconceptions were among the most prevalent-compared to the teacher-training students sample. Results show significant difference between the groups on discrimination ability and response bias. Although psychology students share the same most prevalent misconceptions, they differ significantly in their amount of agreement. The reported study reveals a better discernment ability and lower response bias on neuromyths in the Psychology students' sample. On the individual item level, they performed better at rejecting some neuromyths than pre-service teachers. In conclusion, some neuroscience and pedagogical psychology training improves the ability to discriminate between true and false statements. Therefore, directly addressing these misconceptions within the study program-Teacher Training and Psychology-could reduce neuromyth endorsement.