Programming the Brain: Educational Neuroscience Perspective: Pedagogical Practices and Study Skills for Enhanced Learning and Metacognition

by Chandana Watagodakumbura

An educator with a background in engineering and education, Dr. Chandana Watagodakumbura has dedicated his life to understanding what makes individuals learn better. Now, he shares his findings in the inspiring Programming the Brain: Educational Neuroscience Perspective, a deeply insightful and intellectually stimulating look at how humans learn and the ways we can create a more enhanced approach to education.

Programming the Brain: Educational Neuroscience Perspective focuses on educational neuroscience and human development and is a must-read for anyone hoping to gain a deeper understanding of what helps individuals learn. Written with an eye toward engagement and conscious pursuit of lifelong learning, Programming the Brain: Educational Neuroscience Perspective will inspire you to engage with the world around you in a more meaningful way.

Learning does not need to be dictated by particular disciplines or a certain type of classroom. It is possible to become a better problem solver, a better decision maker, and a better human through enhanced learning. As Dr. Watagodakumbura helps us understand, our lifelong journey can be rooted in deep learning every step of the way.

283 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 9, 2017

About the author

Most of Chandana's recent research/inquiring/integrative activities and publications were in the areas of educational neuroscience/mindful learning/contemplative education/social-emotional learning(SEL)/whole person development/human development (mainly since completing his Graduate Certificate in Higher Education in 2006 from Monash University Melbourne). In his work, education is perceived from a deeper and multidisciplinary perspective. More specifically, emotional and social aspects of learning are given due consideration in addition to the usual cognitive ones, and inclusive practices are promoted. Publications done in these areas include two books and over another fifteen peer-reviewed research papers. The two books were titled as "Programming the Brain: Educational Neuroscience Perspective - Pedagogical Practices and Study Skills for Enhanced Learning and Metacognition" and "Education from a Deeper and Multidisciplinary Perspective - For a Sustainable Development of the Neurodiverse Society - A Futuristic View" published in 2017 and 2013, respectively. These research/inquiring/integrative outcomes were the results of his contemplation on general education, out of his personal interest for over 30 years since being a teenager. Close to 20 of these years, he has spent as an academic in higher education.

He has been involved in conducting over 70 courses in higher education in the areas of computer science/engineering, information systems, education and management. They were conducted to diverse student cohorts in Australia, Cyprus and Sri Lanka at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. For over dozen of these courses, he prepared complete curriculum including assessment and all teaching-learning material following his educational ideals.

He has done formal research studies and earned a PhD from RMIT University Melbourne in 2004. The area of this research was broadly Computer Systems Engineering (in data traffic engineering to be more specific).