How to Fall in Love with Math
Dr. Manil Suri is good with numbers and letters. He explains why mathematics isn’t something to be feared, but appreciated: Think of it this way: you can appreciate art without acquiring the ability to paint, or enjoy a symphony without being able to read music. Math also deserves to be enjoyed for its own sake, without being constantly subjected to the question, “When will I use this?”
Funding preschool education smart use of tax dollars
Attorney, biotech VP and educator Matt Valenti reports: “A study done by Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman concluded that investing in quality preschool programs is a better bet than investing in other markets, yielding economic returns between 7 percent and 10 percent. Can your mutual fund do that?” Mr. Valenti’s article reminds us of the enormous difference investment in early childhood education makes — for individuals and for society.
The Joys of Educational Jargon
John Merrow, educational reporter for PBS NewsHour and the author of “The Influence of Teachers,” cuts through the hype of educational jargon in this essay: Does jargon disguise vacuity? Anne Lewis, a veteran reporter, offered this analysis: “I have come to the conclusion that it exists because of a professional lack of esteem. Other professions requiring college degrees have a specific language — medicine, the sciences, engineering, law. But educators only have plain English, so they change it into a “professional” language that sounds fancy and inaccessible when it ought to be the most accessible profession of all.”
Einstein's Brain Better Connected
A new study suggests Albert Einstein’s brain was unusually well-connected. Microscopic imagery of the corpus callosum, the neurons and fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres, revealed Einstein’s brain was better “wired” to send and receive information between the brain’s halves and various regions. Researchers at East China Normal University’s Department of Physics developed a new method for mapping the connection between the two cerebral hemispheres in Einstein’s brain. Their study, reported in the journal Brain, suggests the physiological difference contributed to Einstein’s remarkable genius.
Smart Teenage Brains May Get Some Extra Learning Time
When it comes to the teenage mind: Nature and Nurture both matter. Researchers working to understand the influences of genetics and environment in shaping the teenage mind report kids with higher IQs may have an extended period in adolescence during which they can absorb new information and learn at a rapid pace, similar to how babies and infants rapidly learn. The brighter the teen, the bigger the window. National Public Radio reports details:
Giving kids iPads won't solve the education challenge
Information Technology writer Galen Gruman makes some very important observations about technology in the classrooms. Asking teachers to administer computers may only add to the problems teachers face each day. And, technology won’t serve to advance the education of all students, perhaps not even most. With this being said, a number of people (teachers) have been recommended to use a program that can help with the way in which assignments are being marked and provide guidance to the student to make improvements. Why not look into for example, a site like bookwormhub.com to help you and your students. Gruman writes: Maybe the notion of a classroom with 30 students learning largely the same thing is
