












































Georgia Journal of Literacy 
2024, Vol. 46(2), pp. 46–49 
https://doi.org/10.56887/galiteracy.143 
ISSN: 2833-7611 

Teaching Tips  

 
 

 

CONTACT Dr. Amy Davis, Assistant Professor; Department of Teaching, Learning, & Foundations; Eastern Illinois 
University, Charleston, IL; email addavis7@eiu.edu. 
 

It’s Time for a “Brain Drain!” 
 
Amy Davis 
Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL 

 

ABSTRACT 

In their classrooms, teachers create learning environments that foster knowledge 
acquisition through the strategies they choose to implement. This article highlights a 
strategy called Brain Drain, which teachers can set up as an activity that will help 
students access their prior knowledge, connect new learning, and have an 
opportunity to discuss and build upon this learning with peers. The Schema, 
Cognitive Load, and Sociocultural Learning Theories are mentioned, briefly 
highlighted, and connected to this strategy. 

KEYWORDS 

schema theory; 
collaborative 
learning 
environment; 
social interaction; 
long-term 
memory 
integration 

 
eachers have the formidable task of planning strategies that will foster a collaborative 
learning environment and help students acquire, retain, and recall information. Each student 
comes to the learning space with prior knowledge based on their personal experiences. 

While learning is a social process, allowing students to discuss their learning deepens those 
existing connections.  

The Brain Drain strategy is one that allows students time to access their prior knowledge, 
connect new learning, and express their understanding with peers. As students acquire, recall, and 
share their learning with others, they can feel their contributions are heard and valued. The learning 
space becomes an expressive, collaborative, and rich experience for students. 
 
Background Knowledge and Social Learning Theories 
Creating learning environments that foster the recall and sharing of knowledge are ones where 
students are actively engaged in the learning process. There are two theories that support the Brain 
Drain strategy. The Schema Theory introduced by British psychologist, Frederic Bartlett in 1932, 
states that acquiring knowledge is a two-step process. The first process is that individuals build 
mental representations of the world around them. When acquiring new knowledge, they integrate 
information stored in long-term memory, referred to as schemata. Schemata will be different for 
every reader, and mental structures will slowly change over time as new knowledge is assimilated 
(Bartlett, 1932). 

The likelihood of information being encoded to long-term memory is dependent on the 
ability of working memory to process and integrate new information into existing schema. 
According to Smith et al. (2021), knowledge stored in long-term memory can be categorized into 
two types: availability and accessibility. Availability refers to that relevant knowledge that is held 
in one’s long-term memory, while accessibility is the time and ease in which this knowledge can 
be retrieved. 

Students learn from their interactions with others. Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky 
(1962) examined how social interactions influenced the learning process. He concluded that 
learning cannot be separated from a social context. Through these interactions with others, 

T 

mailto:addavis7@eiu.edu


Davis 47 
 

individuals learn the rules, skills, and abilities that are shaped by one’s culture. Furthermore, 
Vygotsky (1978) concluded that language is the tool that promotes thinking and reasoning and 
supports reading and writing. 

When teachers utilize strategies that promote and celebrate individuality and the collective 
expression of all those participating, the reading and learning experience is enhanced. 
 
Brain Drain Strategy 

The Brain Drain strategy can be used with students of varying ages and abilities. The purpose is 
to allow time for “draining” the brain of previously read content and background knowledge, then 
allowing time for peer-to-peer discussion. There are two steps in implementing this strategy. 
 

Step 1: Preparation. To prepare, post self-adhesive chart paper around the classroom. 
Give each student a marker, then ask students to find a partner and a piece of paper. 
 

Step 2: Implementation. Set the timer between two to five minutes; time will vary 
depending on students’ ages and abilities. Pose a question to the group and ask students to quietly 
use words or pictures to represent their understanding of the text. 
 

Step 3: Discussion and Wrap-Up. When the timer goes off, allow two to five minutes 
for them to discuss with their partner what they’ve drawn or written and allow them to add to their 
initial explanation or drawings. Ask each group to share their posters with the group. 
 
Table 1: Directions for Brain Drain Strategy Implementation 

Step Directions 

Preparation • Post self-adhesive chart paper around the classroom  
• Pass out markers to students 

Implementation 

• Ask students to find a partner and paper  
• Pose question  
• Ask students to respond to the question in words or 

pictures individually  
• Set a timer for 2-5 minutes 

Discussion & Wrap Up 

• After the timer goes off, allow students to discuss their 
interpretations   

• Allow students to add to their interpretations  
• Ask each partnership to share their posters with the group 

 
Brain Drain Example 

Figure 1 is an example of the strategy I implemented with my undergraduate preservice 
teachers in an English as a second language methods course. They had read, and we discussed the 
stages of language acquisition, Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development, and Dr. Jim Cummin’s 
Iceberg theory. I found it interesting how the discussion with their partner helped them remember 
additional details. For example, in Figure 1, the time periods of language acquisition stages were 
added after the discussion. 

As a group, we discussed modifications and variations for this strategy. I used it as an 
informal summative assessment and a way to incorporate language for English learners through 



48 Georgia Journal of Literacy 46(2)  
 

the discussion piece. My students suggested that you could use it as a way to assess students’ 
background knowledge of particular content and then assess what they learned. Teachers would 
follow the same format, with students individually adding to the poster and discussion, and then 
additional details could be added. One thing I thought was particularly interesting was that one 
student said to color code these additions. For example, background knowledge is one color, then 
new learning is another, so students can see how much they learned. 

For small group modifications, teachers could ask students to individually write or draw 
everything they know about a particular topic and then share their drawings or explanations with 
a partner. After a guided reading experience with text, students could add more detail and then 
again discuss their drawings or writing with a partner. 

The Brain Drain strategy enhances the learning experience for students because they must 
recall existing knowledge from their long-term memories and display it with words or drawings. 
Students are given time to access this knowledge, and there is individual accountability in that 
each participant completes their own work before the peer-to-peer discussion. In addition, this 
strategy raises students’ awareness of what they already know and what they learned and how 
talking with their peers can both enhance and increase their learning.  
 
Figure 1: Example of Brain Drain Activity  

 
Note. Timeframes were added after discussion with a partner. 



Davis 49 
 

Conclusion 
Teachers are responsible for designing and implementing instructional strategies that will 

ultimately assist their students to learn and remember content. The strategy, Brain Drain, allows 
for individual thinking and expression as well as peer-to-peer interaction. Most importantly, 
students make connections to previous and new knowledge and discuss with peers, which will 
enhance and increase their learning experience and create a collaborative, rigorous learning 
environment. This strategy can be implemented at various ages and skill levels and either with a 
whole or small group of students. Teachers should observe and adjust based on student responses 
and learning outcomes.  

The Brain Drain strategy does require some teacher preparation such as question generation 
and gathering supplies. If students are experiencing difficulty either responding to the question or 
working with a specific peer, the teacher can walk around and monitor the partnerships closely, 
offer suggestions, or strategically partner students before implementation. Ultimately, it is the 
teacher’s planning for a successful learning experience, and I encourage you to try the Brain Drain 
strategy with students and share it with colleagues. It’s always a good time for a Brain Drain! 
 
References 
Bartlett, F. C. (1932). Remembering: A study in experimental and social psychology. Cambridge 

University Press. 
Smith, R., Snow, P., Serry, T., & Hammond, L. (2021). The role of background knowledge reading 

comprehension: A critical review. Reading Psychology, 42(3), 214–240. https://doi.org/
10.1080/02702711.2021.1888348 

Vygotsky, L. S. (1962). Thought and language. MIT Press. 
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. 

Harvard University Press. 
 
Received: April 16, 2024 | Accepted: June 10, 2024 | Published: November 15, 2024 

https://doi.org/10.1080/02702711.2021.1888348
https://doi.org/10.1080/02702711.2021.1888348

	Background Knowledge and Social Learning Theories
	Brain Drain Strategy
	Table 1: Directions for Brain Drain Strategy Implementation

	Brain Drain Example
	Figure 1: Example of Brain Drain Activity


	Note. Timeframes were added after discussion with a partner.
	Conclusion
	References

