Xq knowledge module no. 3 Discover the Science of Adolescent Learning How do teenagers learn and grow?

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XQ KNOWLEDGE MODULE NO. 3 DISCOVER
The 
Science of 
Adolescent 
Learning
How do teenagers learn and grow?

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XQ Knowledge Module No. 3 The Science of Adolescent Learning
 
2
We’ve learned 
a great deal in 
the last decade 
about the human 
brain and our 
capacity for 
continuous 
learning
.

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XQ Knowledge Module No. 3 The Science of Adolescent Learning
 
3
Advances
in psychology 
and neuroscience 
are fundamentally 
changing the way 
we understand 
how adolescents 
develop into 
capable, 
independent, and 
confident adults
.

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XQ Knowledge Module No. 3 The Science of Adolescent Learning
 
4
By understanding 
and applying the 
fundamentals 
of brain science, 
we can empower 
young people to 
become agents 
of their own 
learning
.

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XQ Knowledge Module No. 3 The Science of Adolescent Learning
 
5
01
What are the 
implications to 
education of 
new information 
about adolescent 
psychology and 
brain development?
03
How can schools 
foster intellectual 
development and 
the growth of 
positive identity 
by making learning 
deeper and more 
engaging? How 
can we help 
students appreciate 
their growing 
competence 
and experience 
satisfaction and 
joy in their own 
identities as 
learners?
02
How are 
innovative schools, 
organizations, 
and/or programs 
applying this 
knowledge in new 
and interesting 
ways? What can 
we learn from 
their work? 
Things to Think About

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XQ Knowledge Module No. 3 The Science of Adolescent Learning
 
6
HOW 
YOUNG 
PEOPLE 
LEARN

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XQ Knowledge Module No. 3 The Science of Adolescent Learning
 
7
Adolescence is a critical 
time for shaping identity.
FACT 07

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XQ Knowledge Module No. 3 The Science of Adolescent Learning
 
8
Understanding the 
adolescent brain.
Until recently, scientists believed the vast majority of brain 
development took place in early childhood. Research over the 
past decade, however, has shifted the way we look at how the 
brain develops over time. We now know that the structure and 
function of the brain continue to develop significantly during the 
adolescent years.
For educators, the lesson is simple and encouraging: you can’t 
give up on high school students, because their development 
is far from over. When young people think deeply, make 
connections, and develop higher-order thinking skills, they’re not 
just adding to what they know, they’re building the fundamental 
capacity of their brains.
Researchers at the University of Oregon used fMRI (functional 
magnetic resonance imaging) to identify the parts of the brain 
that develop later in life. They found that, for teenagers, the 
prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for things like 
decision making, impulse control, and prioritization—continues 
to build over time and functions differently than in the brains 
of adults. This helps us understand why teenagers sometimes 
act up, and is proof that high school is a critical time to engage 
students in new, creative ways of learning and doing.
Good learning environments should provide young people 
opportunities to develop their identity and safely envision 
themselves as the adults they want to become.
The adolescent brain 
is malleable. According 
to Temple University 
psychologist Laurence 
Steinberg, this is a 
double-edged sword. 
While teen brains are 
susceptible to harmful 
experiences, they are 
equally responsive to 
positive experiences 
that promote growth.