Skip to main content

Home/ 6329 brain-based learning/ Group items tagged start

Rss Feed Group items tagged

Filter: All | Bookmarks | Topics Simple Middle
shaila a

Later Start Times for High School Students | CEHD | U of M - 2 views

www.cehd.umn.edu/...Sleep

start high school sleep

shared by shaila a on 15 Oct 13 - No Cached
  • From the onset of puberty until late teen years, the brain chemical melatonin, which is responsible for sleepiness, is secreted from approximately 11 p.m. until approximately 8 a.m., nine hours later.
    • shaila a
      shaila a on 18 Oct 13
       
      It may be a justification for a late start of school day for teeagers.
    • Martha Rodriguez
      Martha Rodriguez on 21 Oct 13
       
      Well I don't agree with this type of justification. Students should practice the routine of being early risers and benefit the most of everyday.
  • Maria Austin on 15 Oct 13
     
    This is also a very interesting article on the topic.
  • ...2 more comments...
  • Martha Rodriguez on 16 Oct 13
     
    Maria, Interesting article; however, both of the school districts in Laredo have implemented that high school students to begin school at 8:30am. I don't see the logic in this because it all goes back to having discipline on going to bed on time.
  • Juan Saldana on 17 Oct 13
     
    Going through the videos it sounds more like a hormonal change, like it happens from one day to the next. My youngest doesn't sleep where as my teenager is like ones in the video.
  • Jaime Villanueva on 17 Oct 13
     
    High school students that are not getting enough sleep can have severe consequences in the classroom. A few of those consequences that I can think of are the limitation of student's ability to learn, listen, concentrate and solve problems in class. Sometimes students may forget important information like names, numbers, homework or to study for a major test the next day. It can also probably lead to health problems like skin problems, rashes or even acne. Mood swings can be another bad side effect of lack of sleep. Aggressive or inappropriate behavior such as being impatient with your teachers or other students could lead to classroom issues . Some of the solutions could be as easy as taking power naps through the day. Make sleep a priority over video games or even late night TV shows. Limit your intake of caffeine before going to sleep.The first step is the awareness of the student that there is an issue.
  • Adam Hovde on 04 Nov 13
     
    I am sure we have all seen the students in our classes that fall asleep almost every day.My last period class is always scoring higher than my 1st period class. Could this be that I have students in 4th period that are stronger than my 1st period, maybe. But it seems to happen year in and year out. My students don't seem to start working until after lunch it seems.
Jackie Byford

Technology adds to students' math comprehension | eSchool News | eSchool News - 7 views

www.eschoolnews.com/...to-students-math-comprehension

technology math comprehension

shared by Jackie Byford on 29 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • The animations are so powerful; bisecting an angle becomes a really visual experience,” Bates said.
  • The report found that students often referred to the roles of visual imagery, animations, and videos in helping them understand key concepts.
  • Moving imagery was clearly a key means for [students] to ‘see what is meant,’ rather than their trying to ‘imagine what is meant’ when it is just described by teachers,” the report found
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • the [MathsAlive] resources enabled a more collaborative environment to emerge, where they were working with students to construct problems and devise methods to solve them,” the study found.
    • Jackie Byford
      Jackie Byford on 29 Sep 13
       
      This article discusses using technology in the Mathematics classroom with findings that suggest that the experiences by students with the animations and visual imagery help them "see" the mathematical concepts verses having to visualize how math works. For many of us this is the case. We learn better when we see or have hands-on experiences with the concepts we are learning. There is a deeper understanding because it takes more for the brain to encode the information into memory when a true experience with critical thinking comes together simultaneously, (Medina, 2008). Schools spend millions of dollars on textbook adoptions every year, needless to say it is a booming business. If research shows that hands-on visual learning will improve not only the learning of the material, but improve critical thinking to empower and build the next generation of problem solvers, why do many educators still stand at the front of the room and lecture from a textbook or tell their students to read this chapter and fill out this worksheet? Compare the experiences you had as a child in school with the experiences today's children have with technology, not only at school, but at home with electronic devices such as ipads. Do you think the next generation that started with an ipad or computer in their hands by age 5 will be more experienced learners because of the visuals and hands-on thinking that is needed to work these devise? Has the induction of these devices helped you become a more in depth better learner? Medina, J. (2008). Brain Rules. Seattle, WA: Pear Press.
  • Maria Austin on 30 Sep 13
     
    Very interesting! Your comments made me wonder if teachers, more often than not, stand in the way of learning more than trying to act as mediators. It is sad to see that young children start their lives at school eager to learn and being active participants of that amazing process of discovery that is the acquisition of knowledge and then see them 3 years down the road, so discouraged and demotivated! What happened? Somehow that is regarded as a normal process, part of their growing and maturing. I have to say that I disagree. Answering your questions...I belong to the generation of the Commodore, Basics and Texas Instruments. I remember spending hours programming my computer. It did make me more curious about technology and I found fascinating that just a few symbols could create so much magic. Children nowadays do not have that much of a connection with the process of creation but they do develop a lot more hands on skills that are essentially the ones they will need in the future. These skills are key but they still require the development of critical thinking in order for them to acquire a more in depth knowledge of any topic. It is at this juncture that teachers are invaluable partners in the educational process. In my opinion, this should be the center of every planning and strategic use of educational methodologies.
  • ...10 more comments...
  • Martha Rodriguez on 30 Sep 13
     
    Jackie, I do think the next generation will have more experienced learners. There has never been a more important time to apply principles of development and learning when considering the use of cutting-edge technologies and new media. When the integration of technology and interactive media in early childhood programs is built upon solid developmental foundations, and early childhood professionals are aware of both the challenges and the opportunities, educators are positioned to improve program quality by intentionally leveraging the potential of technology and media for the benefit of every child.
  • Adam Hovde on 30 Sep 13
     
    I really liked the piece you picked for the discussion group. In my school district we are implementing a 1:x initiative that all students will have Ipads and use them in the classroom. I think this is great on some instances and bad on others. Like the discussion says kids learn more when a video or some other form of multimedea follows with instruction. I get that and I am trying to use this in my classroom. The hard part about this philosophy right now is most of the students that we have, have grown up with the Ipad as a toy not an educational device and having the students think about the Ipad as an educational device is harder said than done it seems. My son is in the 4th grade and was given an Ipad 2 weeks ago. He has been able to some great things with it as a learning tool BUT he still sees the Ipad as something he gets to play Mine Craft on and not a learning tool. My high school students are having a harder time using the Ipad for educational use. I did not mean to derail this thread with this topic but my experience is telling me that we are at a cross roads right now. We have students that started with pen and paper and slowly have moved to a more technology based education are struggling using the technology because they have only used the technology as a toy up until now. The students coming up have had the technology earlier in life and are able to use it in class but they are still having a hard time associating the technology with learning. I guess what I am saying is that I know that the use of the technology will help the students learn but the students are having a hard time realizing that the technology is an educational tool as well as a game. What can we do to help the students realize the powerful tools they have at their disposal these days that we did not growing up?
  • Jackie Byford on 30 Sep 13
     
    Maria, I have to admit that I am guilty of standing in the way of technology. It is hard to incorporate the technology in a way that is resourceful and useful. I think Adam hit the nail on the head when he talks about the fact that today's student thinks of the technology as a toy not an educational tool, even if they played educational games. Martha has the key that the integration of technologies needs to be built on a strong foundation so that the new generation can see the ipad as a tool instead of a toy.
  • Maria Austin on 02 Oct 13
     
    Jackie, You bring up very interesting points as do Adam and Martha. I would reflect on the different issues tackled maybe separating them into their different components. One element is the learning process: as Martha says, applying proper methodologies and evidence-based research in the classroom is essential. My question would be: as teachers, we have all been taught and trained in developmental theories and educational methodologies, however, very little of that seems to trickle into our practice, I wonder why. Another point would be the use of technology as such and the definition of a learning process: if the learning process is restricted to the acquisition of data, technology can do very little for us, since internet, ipads, etc. are, for the most part, meant to facilitate the spread of information. Maybe the emphasis should be on the development of skills that would allow students to process and discriminate sources and facts, and be able to apply them to a variety of real life situations. The acquisition of data should be dependent upon the development of higher order thinking skills. In this sense, the line separating the use of technology as a toy and the use of technology to facilitates the access to data is not very easy to draw. It has been argued that the development of problem solving skills and creativity is at the core of many games. Should the educational process be limited to games? Most certainly not, but, I think that technology is forcing us to redefine the way we see learning.
  • Jennifer Henson on 02 Oct 13
     
    Interesting dialogue! Maria, I completely agree that the emphasis should be on the development of higher order skills. I know, too, that technology can rapidly turn off students if it is slow or boring or whatever they are doing with it doesn't interest them. I think real learning is always going to come back to meeting students where they are and getting them to think in new ways about topics they care about--whether they are using technology or not. So technology may be forcing us to redefine the way we teach, but I don't think it's redefining the key elements of effective teaching.
  • Jeff Blackman on 04 Oct 13
     
    I'm amazed we know as much as we do given the way we were taught and how it is so "wrong" compared to the way our brains actually work. I think that says something for human resilience and adaptation. In spite of the classrooms we endured and seemingly endless lectures, a lot of us have still been able to come out ok and be pretty darned effective in our lives and jobs. Do I think the next generation will be more experienced learners because of the hands on nature of various devices they've been exposed to? Not necessarily. It still depends on how it is used. If all my 5 year old does is play some game on my iPhone, I don't know if that is making her a more experienced learner. Just like anything else, it takes the parent or educator to be involved and help the child use the device in the most effective way.
  • Jackie Byford on 06 Oct 13
     
    Maria you are absolutely correct! As educators we know what we should do, but it is not the easy road so we fall short sometimes in using proper methodologies. I believe there are many reasons "excuses" such as: classes are large with too many learning styles, paperwork gets in the way of planning, not enough time in class to apply methodologies. Let's face it when it comes down to the wire the use of methodologies are just good teaching skills, which should include the use of current technologies in the right context and for the right reason. I think too many times educational games just become "play" time and a break for the teacher to get other work done. They are called educational, but many times the kids just see the game not the educational aspect. Jennifer and Jeff, I don't think I could have said it any better. In order to be an effective teacher, one must incorporate the available tools in a way that meets the needs of the students. It all breaks down to how we use technology. Thinking about how "we" learned referring to those of us over 30 who did not have all this technology in school, we did turn out okay. If I talk to my colleagues who have taught more than 15 years they would say that the technology has taught our current students to be less effective at critical thinking when it comes to academics, yet they can learn, maneuver, and use problem solving skills to navigate the newest video games. Have any of you tried to play "Call of Duty" or "World of Warcraft?" They are not easy! It takes time, repetition, and good problem solving skills to get through each level. Maybe we as educators need to be more versed in the problem solving skills in popular games and be able to show our students the connection between the skills they use in the classroom and the skills they use in those games. It would give them the answer to that age old question, "Why am I learning this_____________?"
  • Maria Austin on 06 Oct 13
     
    Totally in accord, Jackie! Technology should be only one more tool and, consequently, it should be used only under certain criteria.
  • Juan Saldana on 07 Oct 13
     
    Teacher do become an obstacle in the classroom, but not of their own accord. They get their hands tied by state testing the ruins education and district politics that can end their careers. It is really sad to see what education has become, if you as a few generations before us, it was a privilege to go to school and today students seem to have to go kicking and screaming. The misconception I have gotten from several teachers that I know is that they have this odd belief that the technology is there to replace them or simply teach the class for them. Technology is a tool that is meant to be wielded by someone who understands it. I think in the next few years we are going to see an exodus of pre-technology teachers and and influx of Generation iPad teachers who are tech savvy and have grown up with the technology. I think that will be a game changer for education and good serving of job security for students in our field.
  • Katy Lu on 07 Oct 13
     
    I normally will skip articles which mention arithmetic. My eyes are easily caught by a visually appealing graphic, a photograph or a poem. But I absolutely agree that "animations and visual images help students see the mathematical concepts and to visualize how math works." Particularly when integrated learning with games, it will make learning more effective and proficient. I believe next generation children will definitely acquire a different learning style with technology, and is much unlike ours.
  • Jaime Villanueva on 14 Oct 13
     
    Jackie, i found a great article on why some children are bad in math! I do not believe that some kids lack the aptitude for math ! http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/03/27/why-is-math-so-hard-for-so-many/
  • shaila a on 07 Dec 13
     
    It is certainly lovely to see children learning in different ways that make sense to the particular individual. I wish I had the chance to learn new concepts with the aid of visualization. The question is: how many teachers are truly using the resources that are available to them?
normairisrodz

5 Ways Technology Will Impact Higher Ed in 2013 - Forbes - 5 views

www.forbes.com/...-will-impact-higher-ed-in-2013

technology HigherEd higher ed education MOOC learning 6329 21stcenturylearning teaching learners

shared by normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13 - No Cached
  • In fact, over the last two years, enrollment in the for-profit education sector was down and industry giants such as the University of Phoenix announced the closure of some of its facilities. 
    • normairisrodz
      normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13
       
      This was surprising to me. With the abundance of advertising for such for-profit companies, I thought they would be growing. It would seem that even though students demand online education to meet their busy lifestyles, they still demand quality (as shown in the annotation below).
  • Over the last two years, the number of top-tier Universities with at least some online activity has more than doubled, in large part due to MOOCs. 
  • By leveraging online platforms, lectures can now be pre-recorded and core content accessed by students any time, anywhere, and as many times as they need.  This means that classroom time can instead be used to augment the lecture content, whether through discussion, group exercises or quizzes. 
    • normairisrodz
      normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13
       
      Educators can spend more time applying the knowledge and concepts introduced by engaging students in activities during class time instead of focusing on teaching content alone.
    • Martha Rodriguez
      Martha Rodriguez on 07 Oct 13
       
      Norma, our institution is currently using Echo 360 Lecture Capture. Echo360 makes it easy to transform existing courses into distance education classes. Its blended learning technology enables teachers to provide students who can't attend classes in person with fundamentally the same dynamic experience and interactivity that teachers provide their on-campus students. Plus, moving courses online allows teachers to time shift their courses to meet the scheduling needs of students. We have had positive feedback from teachers using Echo360.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • what will be the cost to sustain MOOCs over time, will these courses count for credit and if and how will they be packaged together into a certificate or degree program? That said,the hybrid model (where part of a program is taught online and part is taught in person) is one that we can expect to see more fully embraced in this coming year. 
    • normairisrodz
      normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13
       
      This article posed some very common questions regarding MOOC's? What is your opinion of the questions posed in this section?
  • There is a huge opportunity for instructors to create a more in-depth learning experience
  • The notion that faculty can increasingly reach a greater of number of students in their ‘classrooms’ means the per unit cost of teaching a student could start to decrease, but only if you can achieve similar or better learning outcomes, and simply moving lecture content online will not solve the cost problem. 
    • normairisrodz
      normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13
       
      I had not thought about lowering the cost of education as a result of moving curriculum into an online platform. This section was quite interesting to me as I had never quite thought about this particular aspect of online education.
  • normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13
     
    This article focuses on how institutions of higher education are adapting to emerging technologies to meet the needs of their students.
  • ...5 more comments...
  • Juan Saldana on 07 Oct 13
     
    You are correct in that higher education is having to adapt to more technologically experienced students. It is really difficult for a student of that caliber to go into a classroom that is taught with a blackboard and chalk. You have hit it on the nail with Rule #4 about boring things, teachers and instructors do need to "step it up" in order to keep these new students engaged.
  • Martha Rodriguez on 07 Oct 13
     
    Juan, you are correct. Instructors need to step it up and use more of technology to engage students. The problem with this that many instructors are not tech savvy and want to continue using the old teaching strategies. Some of this faculty are intemediated to use a computer; using other devices would drive them insane.
  • Adam Hovde on 07 Oct 13
     
    I agree Juan. Many of my students are coming back to tell me that their college classes are basically the same as when we went to college. All lecture based and you never really get to know your professor. In some inservice we had I saw some youtube videos about students that are leaving college because they re not learning anything new in the classes. They could learn everything online if they wanted too. Colleges might have to make some changes if these MOOC or other online classes dip into their attendance base.
  • Jennifer Henson on 08 Oct 13
     
    My apologies for starting a new topic and THEN reading this one. The overlap is great! I am glad, though, to have the Forbes article to reference in addition to the one I supplied from the NYT. This sentence from the article caught my attention in particular, "The beauty of teaching analytics is that teachers will have real time information on how students learn and can augment future plans accordingly." For my research project I've been interviewing administrators from online high schools. A couple of them have mentioned how incredibly valuable it is to have analytical data, such as the amount of time a student spends on a page, site, assignment, or test as well as all the concrete test and assignment data to identify where they struggle. One principal told me that when she surveyed her teachers last year, she heard two things again and again, "You'll have to pry the computer out of my cold, dead hands before I go back to in-class instruction," and "You have broken me and I won't be able to return to a brick-and-mortar setting where I don't have the ability to gather data like I do in an online setting" This particular school (Mountain Heights Academy) has a focus that is heavily data driven and student-centered. She told me, "Teachers are skeptical at first, but have really come to see how much looking at the data allows them to create personalized instruction that can make all the difference in learning for the kids."
  • Maria Austin on 08 Oct 13
     
    This is a very interesting article and quite thought provoking. I should start by saying that I love MOOCs. I have taken a dozen classes at different MOOCs and most of them have been very high quality. Teachers are passionate about the topic they are teaching because they are normally topics they don't get to offer at their universities for a number of reasons. Some of the courses even offer undergraduate credit hours. I don't think they represent any threat to the standard university program and, for the most part, my impression is that students who take these courses do it for the sake of learning.
  • shaila a on 08 Oct 13
     
    It's a fascinating article. Sounds like all of us enrolled in this program/ certificate are in the right place at the right time! MOOCs have worked for my first year teacher cousin. She is a teacher aide in the NYC public school and needed her +15 credits to get the raise that she wanted. MOOCs has made it possible for her. It would surely open up many opportunities for young, struggling professionals (and others) who would like to take classes at their own pace should MOOCs offer online degrees.
  • Jackie Byford on 13 Oct 13
     
    I know this article focused on higher education, but the same things are happening in public k-12 with the option of online schooling. It is a platform for kids who do not necessarily "fit" into the public education mold and many students are graduating and heading on to college from such program as K12 here in Texas. Just as certain technologies were integrated over the last decade such as televisions and tape recorders, those of us who are educators need to move with the times. The fact that higher education is offering such classes as MOOCs and online classes, it gives adults like me the opportunity to continue my education at a cheaper cost and without losing as much time with my family. I do feel that as we move through the 21st century online education will become a norm... and it offers opportunity and a way to reach the needs of all students.
Jaime Villanueva

MOOCs: Changing the world - 20 views

Katy, I completed a Mooc course last semester and did receive my certificate.The problem I encountered was the same that you stated I was half a point from receiving a certificate that stated exemp...

MOOC

started by Jennifer Henson on 08 Oct 13 9 follow-ups, last by Jaime Villanueva on 14 Oct 13
Maria Austin

Russell Foster: Why do we sleep? | Video on TED.com - 1 views

www.ted.com/...ll_foster_why_do_we_sleep.html

shared by Maria Austin on 13 Oct 13 - No Cached
  • Maria Austin on 13 Oct 13
     
    Hello, everybody! This week, Shaila Ahmed and I will be hosting the discussion on Brain Rule # 7. We are sharing a number of videos and articles on sleep and the brain. We hope you enjoy them and comment on your approach to sleeping and sleeping patterns. We will start the conversation with this question from this video: 32 years spent sleeping!! A waste of time?
  • Maria Austin on 13 Oct 13
     
    Week 8: Brain Rule #7. We would also like to share the following links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI96e38zMj4&list=PL864BD9A550344BEE And: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtyAFli26vU&list=PL864BD9A550344BEE Thank you in advance for your comments.
Jackie Byford

Sound versus Music versus Audio versus Noise - 26 views

This is something I have thought about incorporating into my classroom, but always wonder if I am picking the right music for the right situation. I am like your daughter's Richard. I started colle...

started by Richard Wilson on 20 Oct 13 12 follow-ups, last by Jackie Byford on 27 Oct 13
Jackie Byford

Brains & Caffeine: Are we ACTUALLY wired that differently? - 14 views

I never really drank much caffeine growing up. I didn't start drinking coffee until I was in college in my 30's. At first it was to keep warm on the chilly morning in Northwest Arkansas. I am not s...

started by Richard Wilson on 23 Oct 13 5 follow-ups, last by Jackie Byford on 27 Oct 13
rtrevin5

How to Create Interactive E-Learning - The Rapid eLearning Blog - 2 views

www.articulate.com/...-create-interactive-e-learning

shared by rtrevin5 on 16 Jun 14 - No Cached
    • rtrevin5
      rtrevin5 on 16 Jun 14
       
      How many times have we attended this kind of training? I am hearing a lot about PD, but in reality, this applies to all facets of training. We find disengaged learners, and more importantly, we ourselves are disengaged from the process. As the author stated, we then throw more and more tricks at them. Click this, see that, play this...and the real training and learning that needs to take place does not happen. How many of you have experienced this in training sessions?
  • While relevance doesn’t equate to interactivity, it does equate to an engaged learner. And an engaged learner is more apt to learn and not be dependent on interactive gimmicks (which is what we usually start with when we try to make the course interactive).
    • rtrevin5
      rtrevin5 on 16 Jun 14
       
      Story of my life. My job includes very linear information that most students have already been doing for years. We generally do updates to existing content because we need to comply with some regulatory requirement. It can be frustrating and difficult. So, when you are faced with this element, as a designer, what do you do? How do you turn the experience into something more positive and beneficial to those around you?
  • ...3 more annotations...
    • rtrevin5
      rtrevin5 on 16 Jun 14
       
      How does the use of click and explore functionality strike you as an instructional designer and developer? Is this a viable tool? Does your content lend itself to this type of thing? I do tend to agree that pull information is sometimes more effective than pushing it out. In general, we push out information in all of our courses, but when I design, I find that I like to engage the learner and make him or her wonder what is around the next button click. This just seems to work for me. 
  • Unfortunately most of the elearning courses I see are linear and not very interactive. Linear isn’t bad on its own. Sometimes it’s preferable to get the information in a simple linear process. But what tends to make the linear course unbearable is when the course navigation is locked. And we tend to lock it because we’re worried that the “learner will not get all of the information.”
  • Relevant content is good and mixing it with screens that allows people to click and explore helps. But probably the single biggest thing you can do to transition from non-interactive to interactive elearning is craft an environment where the learner has to pull information in rather than us push information out.
  • rtrevin5 on 16 Jun 14
     
    This is one of the most useful sites on the internet. Articulate is a rapid authoring software suite, but it also has one of the most engaged communities doing amazing things with e-learning. I highly recommend their site and the content within.
  • jennalsmith on 30 Jun 14
     
    What a great resource this is for instructors who are newbies at instructional design! I am excited to share this resource with my team of instructors. I think that it will be a good starting point for many of the instructors who I work with who have expressed interest in creating instructional design but who are very inexperienced in their instructional design creation. I appreciate the tips mentioned as well as the demos.
Katy Lu

Achieving Without Goals : zenhabits - 1 views

zenhabits.net/goal-less

shared by Katy Lu on 02 Sep 13 - No Cached
    • Katy Lu
      Katy Lu on 02 Sep 13
       
      Enjoy what you do is the most easiest way to find happiness. So enjoy what you do, NOW!
  • Isn’t having no goals a goal?
  • Love what you do. This seems obvious, but so often people do things that they’re not excited about. I try to find things that I love doing, and if there’s some mundane task I have to do for some reason, I either eliminate it or find a way to enjoy the hell out of it.
    • Juan Saldana
      Juan Saldana on 15 Sep 13
       
      i couldn't agree with this more, how many mindless drones do we know that hate their jobs and let it snowball the rest of their lives? The fields I work in pay well and I get new toys to play with all the time! I tell my mids to do something they love, it might not pay a 6-7 figure salary but you will be happy, live longer, and enjoy your life that much more..
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Love what you do. This seems obvious, but so often people do things that they’re not excited about. I try to find things that I love doing, and if there’s some mundane task I have to do for some reason, I either eliminate it or find a way to enjoy the hell out of it.
    • Adam Hovde
      Adam Hovde on 18 Sep 13
       
      One of the best posts I have ever seen. I try and live by these guidelines. I was not always a teacher. I started out as a programmer and hated the job. I went back to school and fell in love with working other students and decided to make a career change into the education field. I have now been a teacher for the past 12 years and still love getting up each day and working with the students. I tell my students all the time. Find something you love doing and then find a way to make it your career.
  • Jackie Byford on 14 Sep 13
     
    I have to agree with you wholeheartedly Katy. Teaching can be a tough job with all the paperwork and extra jobs that seem to be never ending. I think that is why so many new teachers just don't make it. Until you are in that classroom dealing with the kids day in and day out you really don't realize what a hard job it is. And its not just the kids that disrupt the class that makes it tough. It is the kids who inspire you or bring you to tears because of the hard work they do even if they have a terrible life at home. I love teaching not because I necessarily love math, but because I like the idea that I make an impact on many students lives every year. Even if it is just one child that I can get motivated and inspire them to be great, I have done my job.
  • Juan Saldana on 15 Sep 13
     
    one I applaud teachers for the work that they do, I know fully well that this is not something I could do. I remember being in K12 and teachers having to deal with the hecklers in the back of the class that didn't want to be there and chose to ruin the experience for every one. This is why I have chosen to take my aquired skills and put them to better use. Simply put teachers need all the help that they can get and I believe that incorporation of technology is the answer. Work smarter not harder...
  • Martha Rodriguez on 16 Sep 13
     
    Yes Katy, doing what you love to do makes you job easier and enjoyable. I enjoy orienting first time online students on how online courses work and makes my time worthwhile when I see them taking another online course after another every semester. That means to me that I guided them correctly and makes me enjoy my job even more.
ernieperez519

Ken Robinson: How schools kill creativity - 14 views

I had no clue Ted Talks existed until I stated this class. I bookmarked the website and normally visit it once a week.

TED school brain learning Ken Robinson

started by Jennifer Henson on 15 Sep 13 5 follow-ups, last by ernieperez519 on 11 Nov 13
Jeff Blackman

How the Freaky Octopus Can Help us Understand the Human Brain - Wired Science - 4 views

www.wired.com/...-us-understand-the-human-brain

octopus intelligence animals brain neuroscience

shared by Jeff Blackman on 21 Nov 13 - No Cached
    • Jeff Blackman
      Jeff Blackman on 21 Nov 13
       
      I swear, I have worked with people with this level of intelligence!
    • Jeff Blackman
      Jeff Blackman on 21 Nov 13
       
      I swear, I've worked with people at this level of intelligence!!  :-)
  • If you want to study an alien intelligence, Godfrey-Smith says, “octopuses are the closest thing we have.”
    • Jeff Blackman
      Jeff Blackman on 21 Nov 13
       
      Maybe octopi ARE aliens!  Seriously, though, it is interesting how far away they are from other "intelligent" animals as far as anatomy yet, are able to do some pretty amazing things.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Octopuses in the wild may be using tools—a feat that, not so long ago, was considered the exclusive domain of humans (though now we know it’s the province of other species too, like dolphins and some birds).
  • But somehow octopuses do things that suggest they’re brainier than plenty of animals with backbones and more familiar nervous systems.
  • Jeff Blackman on 21 Nov 13
     
    We have all heard stories about someone's really "smart" dog or cat who can do these "amazing" things. But the lowly octopus gets virtually ignored. What are some other animals you think are smarter than we give them credit for? Have you observed something amazing from an animal you wouldn't have expected it from? (It's ok if it was just you in the woods alone. We won't think you're crazy or anything!) :-)
  • ...7 more comments...
  • Jeff Blackman on 21 Nov 13
     
    Link to annotations: https://diigo.com/01bzzm
  • Katy Lu on 21 Nov 13
     
    So this is what you meant, Jeff? "Rocky the Octopus predicts Super Bowl 46 winner" http://youtu.be/XCxFiWLUtfo
  • Jeff Blackman on 21 Nov 13
     
    LOL Exactly!! :-)
  • Jackie Byford on 23 Nov 13
     
    Very interesting! Could it be that because the octopus is something that is not easy to study in nature because they are smart enough to evade? Makes you wonder if this is why we never see "Bigfoot" or "Nessy." No really, how could we not believe that there are animals or other beings out "there" that are more intelligent or at the least intelligent in different ways? I bet if you talked to anybody who worked in a lab with animals you would hear stories of behavior that would not be typical of that particular animal. Why? Because the animal is not in its natural environment. No matter how big or small a brain is, it will adapt to the situation it finds itself in. This happens everyday when stray animals of all types are abandoned in areas that are not their natural habitats such as "domestic" snakes in Florida in the 80's and 90's. Now, what does Florida have? A BIG snake problem, because although I would think the snake would not have much of a brain they learn to survive in areas that get colder than they are accustomed too by surviving.
  • Jaime Villanueva on 25 Nov 13
     
    The ocean is by far the most unexplored area on earth. It covers about seventy percent of the earth's surface that is vital to our planets survival. It regulates the earth's temperature and supports living organisms like the octopus. I read an article a few years ago that 90 percent of the ocean still to this day remains unexplored. I cannot believe with the advancement of technology 90 percent of the ocean is still unexplored. If you think about it the ocean is a big museum that can provide us with many answers to most of our questions.
  • Jeff Blackman on 27 Nov 13
     
    Yes, Jackie, it is really amazing how animals are able to adapt. Humans so often think we can control these things but it's not so simple. Jaime, it does make you wonder what else is under there that we don't even have any idea about. Could be very exciting...or scary! (Pacific Rim, anyone?)
  • Adam Hovde on 02 Dec 13
     
    I is fascinating how animals can adapted to their environments. The oceans are filled with animals that act like and hunt like land animals. They have to find their niche to live or perish. Darwin's studies on this have always amazed me. Maybe we can find an animal in the ocean as smart as us.
  • Maria Austin on 02 Dec 13
     
    This kind of research makes you think if we need to redefine the concept of intelligence and problem solving skills. As Adam said, we may find out that there are animals that are just as smart as us!
  • shaila a on 07 Dec 13
     
    Thank you so much for sharing such an interesting article with 'sassy' octopus stories. I agree that we need to start thinking outside of the box and try studying intelligence in a new light. PS: I knew that octopuses are smart but I guess they are smarter than I thought they were...
normairisrodz

"Engage Me or Enrage Me": What Today's Learners Demand (EDUCAUSE Review) | EDUCAUSE.edu - 2 views

www.educause.edu/...oday%E2%80%99s-learners-demand

technology engagement prensky 6329 teaching 21stcenturylearning learners

shared by normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13 - No Cached
  • the kids back then didn’t expect to be engaged by everything they did. There were no video games, no CDs, no MP3s—none of today’s special effects. Those kids’ lives were a lot less rich—and not just in money: less rich in media, less rich in communication, much less rich in creative opportunities for students outside of school. Many if not most of them never even knew what real engagement feels like.
  • All the students we teach have something in their lives that’s really engaging
    • normairisrodz
      normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13
       
      If teachers could tap into what engages their students, they can also tap into their motivation to learn and be active participants in the learning process.
  • Rather than being empowered to choose what they want
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • in school, they must eat what they are served
  • In my view, it’s not “relevance” that’s lacking for this generation, it’s engagement.
  • So we have to find how to present our curricula in ways that engage our students—not just to create new “lesson plans,” not even just to put the curriculum online
    • normairisrodz
      normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13
       
      How do you engage your students in innovative ways in your classroom? With such emphasis placed on standardized test preparation, are you allowed academic freedom to engage your students with alternative teaching practices?
  • kids’ long-term engagement in a game depends much less on what they see than on what they do and learn.
  • And if we educators don’t start coming up with some damned good curricular gameplay for our students—and soon—they’ll all come to school wearing (at least virtually in their minds) the T-shirt I recently saw a kid wearing in New York City: “It’s Not ADD—I’m Just Not Listening!”
    • normairisrodz
      normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13
       
      It's not just about graphics and special effects, it's about substance. Do students learn and are they challenged?
  • That’s one more reason the kids are so enraged—they know their stuff is missing!
  • normairisrodz on 06 Oct 13
     
    Engaging students who "tune us out". This article reinforces Brain Rule 4: Attention, "we don't pay attention to boring things." Educators must seek ways of engaging students... solution - game-based learning.
Richard Wilson

In the Brain, 7 is a magic number - 5 views

phys.org/news178220995.html

brain

shared by Richard Wilson on 02 Oct 13 - No Cached
  • Richard Wilson on 02 Oct 13
     
    In 2011, I entered into an extended coma -- 2 months. After awakening and 3 months of cognitive therapy I could only recall a verbal list of 6 items. Longer than that and my brain got scrambled. I would forget the whole list. I felt that I had not recovered very well, but then I saw this article.
  • ...3 more comments...
  • Jennifer Henson on 02 Oct 13
     
    Fascinating article. I'm shocked to learn this, Richard. You have certainly come a long way! The brain is a powerful instrument, indeed!
  • Adam Hovde on 07 Oct 13
     
    That is amazing Richard. I have read a lot of Malcolm Gladwells work and he talks about repetition and doing things many times to remember them. I hope you have made a full recovery. Good Luck!
  • Jennifer Henson on 08 Oct 13
     
    Adam, Gladwell is one of those guys I've long wanted to read. Memory is one of my hot buttons, so thanks for the reference. I'll see what he has to say! Any recommendations on where to start?
  • Adam Hovde on 08 Oct 13
     
    Jennifer, The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers are all great reads. I have enjoyed all of them.
  • shaila a on 08 Oct 13
     
    You guys think that that's the answer to why I am able to remember phone numbers in the States (7 digits) but not the ones here is Singapore (8 digits)? Glad you made a full recovery, Richard.
Richard Wilson

Feed Your Head, Rule #1, #7 - 5 views

Long ago, when lyrics were not explicit and wardrobes were not raw, Grace Slick, serendipitously slipped a drug reference past the music censors, referring to hallucinating. Medina, years later, m...

started by Richard Wilson on 27 Oct 13 no follow-up yet
Jaime Villanueva

MOOCs free forever? - 13 views

The great thing about MOOC's is it fosters peer to peer collaboration. Last semester I took a Mooc course and I did not have any interaction with the instructor it was all student base collaborat...

started by Richard Wilson on 08 Oct 13 7 follow-ups, last by Jaime Villanueva on 14 Oct 13
Juan Saldana

More News about MOOCs - 10 views

I was introduced to moocs in the last incarnation of 6329, I took my first mooc and although the time constraints were a problem I found it quite enjoyable. The benefit of these moocs is their fle...

started by Richard Wilson on 08 Oct 13 2 follow-ups, last by Juan Saldana on 13 Oct 13
Maria Austin

High Schools Starting Later to Help Sleepy Teens : NPR - 1 views

www.npr.org/...story.php

shared by Maria Austin on 15 Oct 13 - Cached
  • Maria Austin on 15 Oct 13
     
    This article will continue the discussion on the brain and sleep.
  • Maria Austin on 15 Oct 13
     
    Can a change mean savings in budget?
Richard Wilson

10,000 brains wired together - 8 views

Hi Juan, You have just frightened me. The Borg is Hive-Mentality gone totally wrong. The Borg was actually what came to my mind when originally typing, so I added the word "momentarily" to my post.

started by Richard Wilson on 22 Oct 13 3 follow-ups, last by Richard Wilson on 23 Oct 13
jennalsmith

Brain Rules Schools - 1 views

www.huffingtonpost.com/...n-rules-schools_b_1128596.html

shared by jennalsmith on 23 Jun 14 - No Cached
  • jennalsmith on 23 Jun 14
     
    I find it interesting that the author of this brief article outlines such a non-traditional agenda / timeline for a school day and I am also interested in knowing the impact on a school system who might implement such a "bold" change to a traditional school schedule / calendar! I also find it interesting that for the most part, everyone who made a comment on the posting seemed to be in favor of seeing changes which support the Brain Rules! Maybe this means that society is ready for these changes!?!?! (What are your thoughts?)
  • rtrevin5 on 26 Jun 14
     
    I think the time is a bit long, but the shorted compressed timeframes are appropriate. If anything, I think they are about 5 minutes too long. There have been studies conducted showing brain activity in people. When you start studying, your brain activity spikes. As the studying drags on, your brain activity hits a low point. As you get closer to your end time, your brain knows that you are almost done, so it spikes again. Think of it as a reverse bell curve. Well, at the points that are spiking, you are retaining more, even if you do not realize. Yet so many people spend hours studying. Most of that is in the low point of brain activity. So, you are retaining less and less. Compressed moments of teaching tend to be better. But, schools are reluctant to adopt this model.
  • asuarez1 on 01 Jul 14
     
    One of the first things that I noticed when I read this article is that it says that the playlist consists of 10 minute intervals. This is one of the things we learn from Brain Rules and TedTalks and other presentation preparations. Attention is gathered for about 10 minutes before you need to do something to capture your audience again. We don't pay attention to boring things, as Brain Rule #4 says and we definitely don't pay attention to things that run on and on. The playlist also compiles visual math which applies to sensory integration with rule #9 where we learn that the best way to remember things is to activate the most senses possible. The playlist also "recycles through concepts they have already mastered." Here we see rule #6, Remember to Repeat, in action. The article also talks about part of the day being "gender-separated." This made me reflect on rule #11, Male and female brains are different. It is fantastic to see Brain Rules at work. It is an effective testimony to what works!
Juan Saldana

Can the Current Model of Higher Education Survive MOOCs and Online Learning? (EDUCAUSE ... - 2 views

www.educause.edu/...vive-moocs-and-online-learning

higher education online learning MOOC disruptive technology

shared by Juan Saldana on 05 Nov 13 - No Cached
  • Not all U.S. colleges and universities will disappear as a result of new technologies, but clearly some will.
  • Technology-enhanced learning has the potential to transform education and to raise the level of education globally.
  • The first threat to American higher education is that MOOCs and online courses will raise the level of competition too high for some institutions to survive.
  • Juan Saldana on 05 Nov 13
     
    We begin day two on the topic of Survival. Ten years ago online education was almost non-existent, today it encompasses a good portion of the course offerings at UTB, will the current model of instruction still exist in another 10 years? What does this mean for us as instructional designers?
  • ...4 more comments...
  • Jennifer Henson on 05 Nov 13
     
    I love this article! thanks so much, Juan. It is helpful on multiple levels. It's no easy thing for a large university to scope out a plan for integrating online education. It's a brand new world and it feels very high risk. As we learn about best practices and our budgets get trimmed, the temptation is to do enough to check the box, but that model causes more trouble in the long run. Lucas's article is a thoughtful, articulate review of lessons learned that can be applied straight away. Thank you!
  • Juan Saldana on 06 Nov 13
     
    Schools as a business are running out of funding, yet tuition keeps getting more expensive (funny right?). I don't know if the current platform for education will be replaced with MOOCs, but it will definitely be replaced, it's natural evolution. Jennifer you are working with Virtual High Schools, soon we will see this in the lower grades. The strange kids we knew who and were jealous of because they were "Home Schooled" will be the norm! However we are not only talking about the "survival" of the institutions, we are talking about the titles that come with these degrees. 50 years High School was a family achievement, today High School doesn't qualify you to stand on the side of the highway with a sign... How long before these titles like M.Ed are no longer worth the paper they are printed on?
  • Jennifer Henson on 06 Nov 13
     
    I believe the University of Miami Online High School has already offered a MOOC about college/ACT prep. I'm bummed because I was hoping to be the first high school to offer a MOOC. I really just love the idea of using technology to give kids opportunities that they would not have otherwise had. But there are practical considerations that trump my idealistic ideas about it. It's always about the money. I think one of the biggest problems we face in our society today is the concentration of wealth at the top. Higher and higher salaries at the top necessitate lower salaries (greater tuition, etc.) elsewhere. We also have huge infrastructure/insurance costs. It's a complex, complicated problem that makes me weary!
  • Juan Saldana on 06 Nov 13
     
    The beauty of a MOOC is that you can literally run it from your parents basement! Look at how Khans Academy started and what it has grown into. Any one of us could essentially develop an online course, videos and all and run it from our home. Although I was just introduced to MOOCs in last semesters 6329, I see them becoming more and more integrated into future curriculum. It would not surprise me if at one point the 6332/6358 course required the development of a fully functional MOOC. Remember I said it first!
  • Katy Lu on 09 Nov 13
     
    People might worried that "massive open online course" may replace the traditional education someday. My answer is NO. They are actually different in nature. MOOC can be taken as an enrichment tool to enhance your urge in knowledge, but can't be officially certified by the Educational Department. MOOC is a good source to learn different topics and meet instructors from vary institutions. That makes learning exciting and help to lighten up life.
  • Martha Rodriguez on 11 Nov 13
     
    Some see MOOCs up-ending the whole model of higher education, allowing students to complete full courses of study in a non-traditional format, particularly with international students, which have made up a large part of the student body in early MOOC courses. Others see MOOCs playing a much smaller role, with the MOOC system of "badges" or certificates for course completion integrated into programs higher education institutions already offer.
1 - 20 of 20
Showing 20▼ items per page