Male & Female Cognitive Learning Differences

Brain specialists conclude that key fundamental brain differences in males and females are what contribute to cognitive learning differences. According to an article written by the Council for Exceptional Children, "males tend to be right-brain dominant and females left-brain dominant." This statement refers to the fact that males have a better capacity for math and science while females excel more in reading and writing. Males and females also react differently to the structured environment of school.

Differences in Structure

• Certain structural differences in the brain cause males and females to learn differently. The corpus callosum stands as the most easily identifiable difference in the structure of the male and female brain. This area of the brain, responsible for producing emotions, has a larger mass in females than in males. According to Dan Hodgins, the Coordinator of Early Childhood Education at the University of Pennsylvania, "Because of this difference in size, females have better verbal abilities and rely heavily on verbal communication; males tend to rely heavily on nonverbal communication and are less likely to verbalize feelings." Research also indicates that certain areas on the frontal lobe, which controls language, are bigger in women. This might explain how women have significant skills in language based fields.

Differences in Development

• Statistics show that the female brain develops faster than the male brain. A visible example of this early maturation takes place in the myelination of the brain. Myelination refers to the process of coating the nerves of the brain which remains one of the final steps of the adolescent brain moving into adulthood. The coating of the brain nerves takes place earlier in females than it does in males. Hodgins states that, "because of this, females, for instance, can acquire their complex verbal skills as much as a year earlier than males." Gaining these early verbal skills gives females an advantage in the classroom as the undeveloped males might struggle with written and oral language.

Differences in Learning Styles

• Both males and females react differently to the structured environment of school and develop learning styles as a coping mechanism. Research suggests that a majority of males utilize a visual learning style which requires visual aids and verbal explanations. According to Hodgins' article, "especially as males get older, they tend toward symbolic texts, diagrams,and graphs." Females tend to work better with simple written texts. Movement also plays a major role in the learning style of males. While females do not require movement to assist in the learning process, males like to move around. This need to move around conflicts with the structured environment of schools as students have the expectation of sitting still and remaining quiet. Both males and females thrive off of the cooperative learning style which incorporates working with partners or groups.