The Braincando Handbook of Teaching and Learning: Practical Strategies to Bring Psychology and Neuroscience into the Classroom

The 'BrainCanDo' Handbook of Teaching and Learning provides teachers and school leaders with a concise summary of how some of the latest research in educational neuroscience and psychology can improve learning outcomes. It aims to create a mechanism through which our growing understanding of the brain can be applied in the world of education. Subjects covered include memory, social development, mindsets and character.

Written by practising teachers working in collaboration with researchers, the chapters provide a toolkit of practical ideas which incorporate evidence from psychology and neuroscience into teaching practice with the aim of improving educational outcomes for all. By increasing both teachers’ and pupils’ understanding of the developing brain, ‘BrainCanDo’ aims to improve cognitive performance and attainment, foster a love of learning and enable a healthy and productive approach to personal development.

This book will appeal to educators, primarily those working in secondary schools, but also those within higher and primary school education. It will also be of interest to students of education, professionals looking to enhance their teaching and researchers working in the fields of education, psychology and neuroscience.

Julia Harrington is headmistress at Queen Anne’s School and founder and chief executive officer of BrainCanDo. She has featured in and been interviewed by publications and media outlets including the Times, the Telegraph, the Guardian and the BBC.

Jonathan Beale is researcher-in-residence at Eton College, a research fellow for BrainCanDo and head of public speaking at Queen Anne’s School. He is the co-editor of two books for Routledge: Wittgenstein and Scientism (2017) and Wittgenstein and Contemporary Moral Philosophy (forthcoming - 2022). He has published articles on philosophy and education in journals and media outlets, including the New York Times.

Amy Fancourt is head of psychology at Queen Anne’s School and director of research for BrainCanDo. She has published articles on psychology and education in journals, including Nature Scientific Reports, Frontiers, Psychomusicology, Impact and Mind, Brain and Education, and in media outlets, including the Times.

Catherine Lutz is training and development manager for BrainCanDo and a PhD candidate in psychology at the University of Essex, writing a doctoral thesis on the theme of the motivational role of pregame speeches in relation to elite athletic performance.