This is an on-going series that covers different topics each episode. Hosted by physicist and science communicator Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince, I’m recommending the episode ‘Teenage Brain’ released 30 Jan 2018.

The blurb for the episode:

Brian Cox and Robin Ince are joined by impressionist Rory Bremner, Profession of Cognitive Neuroscience at UCL Sarah-Jayne Blakemore and Professor of Zoology at Manchester University, and Matthew Cobb, Professor of Zoology at Manchester University, to look at the working of the teenage brain, and why teenagers are so, well, teenagery. Stomping off to your bedroom, being embarrassed by your parents, wanting to fit in with your peers and a love of risky behaviour are all well known traits associated with our teenage years, exasperating parents through the ages. But new research into dynamic changes going on in the brain during these key years has revealed that it’s not just hormones that are responsible for these behaviours. Could a better understanding of what is going on during these formative years not only help teenagers themselves, but inform our education system and even help prevent many of the mental health problems that often begin during adolescence?

We recommend this is Teacher Identified PD for 30 mins addressing 1.1.2 ‘Use teaching strategies based on knowledge of students’ physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics to improve student learning’. The focus on hearing about and understanding typical intellectual development of teenage brains will assist with considerations of creating teaching strategies to best suit these students.

Link to the episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09pl662 

Amy Cotton is a Professional Officer of the IEUA NSW/ACT Branch.