The human brain is a complex organ. Averaging about 3lbs, the brain is made up of billions of cells and caries out complex processes far exceeding that of any computer made. Mauk (2012) notes that executing a single task of sending electrochemical signals requires billions of neurons connected to trillions of synapses.

Information processing, which constitutes the learning process, is carried in the brain similar to what occurs in a computer. The online teacher resource notes “In order for the brain to process information, it must first be stored”. The brain makes use of several different types of storage to achieve this purpose – sensory, working, and long-term memories. Data elements are sent into a working memory, from the sensory neurons. This data is related to information stored in long term memory to make sense of them, and then signals are then sent to receptor neurons to carry out an action. Sometimes when the data sent to the working memory does not relate to anything stored in Long term memory, the brain processes that data to be stored as part of long term memory.

In order for learning to be efficient, therefore, it is important for teachers to ensure that their learners can relate the new information being provided them to information already stored in long term memory. Guan (2015) quoting Jose Bowen, notes that the role of the teacher should be to help students find the relevance or the entry point of the things they are learning. This means teachers must be able to create learning instructions and opportunities for students to find relationships between what they are learning and what they already know. Understanding how the brain works and processes information provides the kind of understanding teachers need to help students find this relationship.