Elephango’s Get It!, Got It?, and Go! format is closely aligned with Bloom’s Taxonomy but also based on the neuroscience of how students learn best. The PRADA formula is an integral part of each Elephango lesson, and every effort should be made to infuse it into the three sections. Here’s the breakdown of PRADA.
Prefrontal Cortex
The prefrontal cortex is an area at the front of the brain, behind the forehead, where new information is encoded in the neurons. It also relies on working memory to help store and recall relevant information before it goes into long-term memory storage. This is where the forgetting curve comes in.
Research shows that 50% of what is learned is lost within an hour, 70% within a day, and 90% within a week. The prefrontal cortex is part of executive functioning and helps with concentration, managing impulses, and completing complex sequences of steps.
Reticular Activating System
The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a network of neurons in the brain that helps filter out unimportant stimuli by managing arousal and activating it for anything interesting or relevant. Think of the RAS as the ears of a dog that perk up when they sense something that may be interesting (squirrels!).
Amygdala
The amygdala is a tiny nugget of gray matter that functions as part of the limbic system, regulating emotion and motivation. It responds to reward and punishment, which is why it is integral to behavioral conditioning.
The amygdala also helps process memories that have an emotional significance.
Dopamine
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that sends chemical signals throughout the brain when excited or happy.
It is also known as the feel-good hormone, and its release further reinforces these good feelings, helping make connections between action and emotion. People love doing things that make them feel good, like eating their favorite foods.
Awards
While this is not a neuroscientific term, the idea of awards ties all the above into gamification. Connect gamification to lessons by adding engaging H5Ps and challenging learners throughout.
Learners can earn awards based on the number of lessons and badges they complete. The leaderboard also incorporates friendly competition.
Incorporating PRADA Into the Lesson
Get It!
Start with new and exciting information.
Grab the attention of the RAS with real-world connections.
Provide focused instruction.
Complement with additional RAS activities.
Got It?
Review and practice — beat the forgetting curve!
Reinforce with questions or activities that ensure recall.
Go!
Place the topic back into context.
Make a personal connection.
Provide a project-based learning opportunity to take it further.
PRADA Presentation
Edovate Learning Corp. CEO Jessica Parnell explains the PRADA research behind Elephango lessons in the presentation below.
You can rewind or fast-forward through the video using your keyboard’s left and right arrow keys. You may also follow along with the provided copy of the presentation slide deck.
Copy of the presentation for your reference.