What Goes Into the Development of Greatness?
(Psychology Today)
A new book gives hints about what it takes to make it to the top.
The Neuroscience of Creativity: A Q&A with Anna Abraham
(Scientific American)
What is going on in our brains when we are creating? How does our brain look different when we are engaging in art vs. science? How does the brain of genius creators differ from the rest of us? What are some of the limitations of studying the creative brain? The neuroscience of creativity is booming.
A Focus On Learning, Not Fun
(Effortful Educator)
Recently I’ve become more concerned with the ties among three words and their use in the classroom: fun, engagement, and learning.
‘Neuromyth’ or Helpful Model?
(Inside Higher Ed)
A nearly century-old idea about learning remains “ubiquitous” despite scant scientific evidence to back it up, many experts say. But others still see value in the concept.
How To Teach A Good First Day Of Class
(Chronicle)
So that first class meeting is a big deal. You want to give students a taste of the engaging intellectual journey they will undertake in the coming weeks — and you have great flexibility in how you go about it. Helping you to make that opening session as effective as possible, whatever your discipline, is the goal of this online guide.
Traditional Masculinity Can Hurt Boys, Say New A.P.A. Guidelines
(New York Times)
The American Psychological Association has approved its first set of official guidelines for working with boys and men.
You Can’t Teach Skills
(Learning Spy)
Here’s the thing: you can’t teach skills you can only teach knowledge. That might seem a little extreme but it’s equivalent to saying, you can’t cook a meal with a prepared meal, you can only cook with ingredients.
Alexa Can Help Kids With Homework, But Don’t Forget Problem-Solving Skills
(NPR Education)
How do virtual assistants like Alexa affect children’s learning experiences? Some experts say easy answers delivered by technology can hurt the development of problem-solving skills in kids.
How to Turn Schools Into Happier Places
(The Atlantic)
A strong student-teacher relationship can help put a dent in school suspensions, according to a new study.
NITOP in Review
(The Novice Professor)
NITOP this year was wonderful, as usual! The talks and posters were inspiring, and TNP team was all together for the first time! Here were my main take-away points from the conference.
Less Is More: Highlighting As Learning Strategy
(3 Star Learning Experiences)
No matter what the teacher does, learners still need to discern the key things in a text themselves. They usually do this by using their favourite study mate: the highlighter!
Sometimes, Advanced Classes Can Slow a Child’s Progress
(Washington Post – Subscription Required, Free Trial)
Amy Tschudin and her husband said okay when their son’s fifth-grade teacher in Montgomery County, Md., suggested he skip a grade of math. They were flattered by the teacher’s judgment, even though their son was a B student. Within two years, he had lost so much confidence in his math ability that his parents had him moved back.
Virginia Study Finds Increased School Bullying In Areas That Voted For Trump
(NPR)
After the 2016 presidential election, teachers across the country reported they were seeing increased name-calling and bullying in their classrooms. Now, research shows that those stories — at least in one state — are confirmed by student surveys.
By Using Recorded Audio Feedback Academics Can Reduce Workload Mentally and Physically
(Science Daily)
Academics experience that by using the Recorded Audio Feedback (RAF) in higher education they can give more relaxed and dialogic feedback for their learners and reduce their own workload both mentally and physically.
The Kids Are Right: School Is Boring
(Education Week – Subscription Required, Free Trial)
But there is a growing argument that the most powerful, relevant learning for today’s students is happening when they connect with the rapidly changing world beyond the school walls to solve problems, explore ideas, rally for a cause, or learn a new technical skill.
Teachers Have Trust Issues
(Education Week – Subscription Required, Free Trial)
When teachers are looking for institutions to trust these days, are more and more of them coming up empty?
How Does the Brain Learn by Talking to Itself?
(Science Daily)
One of the greatest challenges of systems neuroscience is to explain how synaptic connections change to support adaptive behaviours. Neuroscientists have previously showed that synaptic learning mechanisms in the brain’s cortex are dependent on feedback from deeper brain regions. They have now precisely deciphered how this feedback gates synaptic strengthening by switching on and off particular inhibitory neurons. This study may also offer insight into computerized learning systems and artificial intelligence.
The Room Where It Happens: Changing Students’ College Outcomes by Changing Their Self-Perception
(Flypaper)
So I started researching the issue. Many of our students told me they didn’t believe they were college material and that they were in high school for the social scene or athletics. Few told me about their college and career aspirations.
Take Care (of Yourself)
(Inside Higher Ed)
Women, I need you to be here for the long haul.
