By Dr. Conrad Aquino, MD, MPH
Director of Healthcare Education — Monse-Heart Healthcare & Safety Tutoring Institute LLC
Overview
This blog article introduces practical, neuroscience-backed learning strategies to enhance information retention, comprehension, and engagement. By blending whole-brain learning, dual coding, and microlearning principles, the Monse-Heart approach moves beyond rote memorization. These techniques are especially effective in healthcare education and can be applied across disciplines to promote deeper, more enduring learning.
The Problem with Traditional Learning
Traditional learning methods, especially in healthcare education, rely heavily on memorization. Students cram information into short-term memory, leading to stress and shallow understanding. As one expert noted, “The hardest way to remember is to memorize — and the easiest way to forget is to memorize.”
Neuroscience supports this. According to Cognitive Load Theory (Simply Psychology, 2023), the brain’s working memory can only hold limited information at once. When overloaded, comprehension and retention suffer.
At Monse-Heart, our teaching focuses on activating both hemispheres of the brain — logic and creativity — to form lasting neural connections.
Understanding Your Brain
The brain’s two hemispheres manage different types of thinking: the left brain handles logic and language, while the right brain processes creativity and emotion. The corpus callosum bridges these halves, allowing them to share information.
When both sides work together, learning becomes deeper and more meaningful. Research from the Harvard Health Blog (2022) (Harvard Health Blog) confirms that engaging both hemispheres improves comprehension and memory retention.
For example, recalling what you had for dinner three nights ago might be hard. But remembering a special meal — the setting, smells, laughter — comes easily because both logic and emotion were engaged.
This connection forms the basis of whole-brain learning, central to the Monse- Heart method.
Conclusion
At Monse-Heart Healthcare & Safety Tutoring Institute LLC, we redefine how healthcare professionals learn. Using microlearning — brief, focused lessons — and dual-coding strategies, we enhance comprehension and retention.
Research from the University of Queensland’s Centre for Educational Innovation (2021) (UQ Centre for Educational
Innovation) confirms that microlearning improves long-term memory and learner engagement.
At Monse-Heart, our learners don’t just pass exams — they master knowledge for real-world application.
Watch our introductory video or explore Monse-Heart’s courses to experience this innovative approach.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Traditional learning relies heavily on memorization, which primarily activates the left hemisphere of the brain. This causes workingmemory overload and limits long-term retention. In contrast, brain-based and dual-coding methods engage both hemispheres, using storytelling, imagery, and emotion to create stronger memory connections (Sweller, 2023 | Fiorella & Mayer, 2023).
The Corpus Callosum Cross helps synchronize logic and creativity between brain hemispheres. When both sides communicate effectively, memory deepens and comprehension improves. This concept is supported by research on dual coding and hemispheric interaction (Harvard Health Blog, 2022 | Paivio, 2022).
Start small and use a mix of visual, verbal, and emotional strategies. Visualize concepts, tell stories, use active recall, and apply theory through practice. These actions strengthen retention and comprehension across both hemispheres (Paivio, 2022 | Sweller, 2023).
Yes. Healthcare education benefits from brain-based learning because it blends logic with empathy. Visualization and storytelling engage emotional and analytical centers, promoting holistic understanding. Microlearning further enhances this process (Fiorella & Mayer, 2023 | University of Queensland, 2021).
Most learners experience improvement within weeks. Short, consistent study sessions form stronger neural pathways, improving retention and recall efficiency. The key is regular reinforcement, not intensity (Sweller, 2023 | Fiorella & Mayer, 2023).
This approach combines neuroscience with modern microlearning. It engages both hemispheres, uses real-world examples, and delivers content in focused 20-minute modules to improve comprehension and attention span (Harvard Health Blog, 2022 | University of Queensland, 2021).
Yes. The Monse-Heart approach supports visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners by stimulating multiple sensory channels. Dualcoding methods combine imagery and language for stronger recall across diverse learning styles (Paivio, 2022).
Begin with Monse-Heart’s Learning Hacks video and short podcasts. Then practice active recall and story-based visualization. Consistency builds strong neural connections and fosters enjoyable learning (Fiorella & Mayer, 2023 | University of Queensland, 2021).
Yes. These methods are adaptable to all professional fields, improving information retention and critical thinking. They’re especially effective for medical and nursing exams, helping learners manage complex information more efficiently (Sweller, 2023).
Technology enhances whole-brain learning through tools like simulations, spaced repetition, and visual mapping platforms. AR/VR environments further engage both hemispheres, improving memory encoding when used strategically (Fiorella & Mayer, 2023 |University of Queensland, 2021).
References & Sources
- Fiorella, L., & Mayer, R. E. (2023). Learning as a generative activity: Eight learning strategies that promote understanding. Cambridge University Press.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/learning-as-a-generative-activity/A7E1D7F80C8078AF9E4418ABFF459589 - Harvard Health Publishing. (2022). Left brain/right brain functions explained. Harvard Medical School.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/left-brain-right-brain-myth - Paivio, A. (2022). Dual coding theory and education: Advances in cognitive psychology. (Alternate link via JSTOR).
https://www.jstor.org/stable/23359208 - Simply Psychology. (2023). Cognitive load theory.
https://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive-load-theory.html - Sweller, J. (2023). Cognitive load theory: Recent developments and future directions. Educational Psychology Review.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-023-09733-2 - The Learning Scientists. (2017, January 19). Dual coding & visual learning research.
https://www.learningscientists.org/blog/2017/1/19-1 - University of Queensland – Centre for Educational Innovation. (2021). Microlearning and memory retention in education.
https://itali.uq.edu.au/project/microlearning
