left brain vs. right brain

Everybody has a left brain and a right brain, and we all use both sides. But most people use one side more than the other. This hemispheric dominance affects the way we process information and learn. Learning with both sides helps us make the most of our brains. Incorporating whole brain learning strategies into academic endeavors will address the left-brainers and right-brainers and allow both types to use more of their brains.

The processing in the left brain is linear. This means that learning occurs from part to whole. Processing in this hemisphere is also sequential. The left brain is good at processing symbols and is very logical and mathematical. The left brain also deals with verbal and written inputs and adheres to rules. Left brain processes are reality-based.

The processing in the right brain is holistic. This means that learning occurs by first envisioning the whole picture. Processing in this hemisphere is random. The right brain is also color-sensitive. This hemisphere is good at processing the concrete: things that can be seen, touched, and felt. The right brain is very intuitive and non-verbal. Right brain processes are fantasy-oriented.