Category Archives: Neuroscience
Schwartz lecture Feb 2010
Daniel Schwartz (Stanford). What teachers see is not what students see (refer variation theory). Expertise leads to precision. Students see “basic” category even with optimal variation. One way to test what they understand is to ask them to redraw a … Continue reading
Neuroscience lecture
“Assessment of learning” lead to … “Assessment for learning” lead to … “Assessment as learning”. Short term memory (fact recall), working memory (process facts). Transferability improves with “fluid intelligence”: reasoning and problem solving requiring no prior knowledge. Learning processes: Initially effortful, uses … Continue reading
Headmagnet: free online memorising tool
Headmagnet is developed by ACT-R – leading researchers in the field of intelligent tutoring systems. Personalising learning on a number of different levels. Lots of their research is available opensource.
Of course our brains are changed by use of technology. Any implications?
Zimbardo’s (Stanford 2010) talk on how digital technology is affecting individual’s focus on the past, present or future. He extends from individual to group psychology based on “Geography of Time” by Robert Levine, arguing that pace of life or sense of … Continue reading
Normal life of an over-achiever .. with agenesis of the corpus callosum
The doctor seemed a bit surprised when he told my Mum, aged 64, the results of her full body scan. He said something like: “You don’t have a corpus callosum, but you don’t need one”, making it sound like long … Continue reading
Frontline documentary about youth internet use
Similar themes to Digital Revolution series on BBC (2010). First in PBS series was ”Growing up online” focusing on identity. Too one-sided and hysterical for me. When I watch programs like this I’m very grateful my parents let us run wild in Outback … Continue reading
Eastin (2008): Towards a cognitive developmental approach to credibility
This paper provides an overview of credibility of information for youth, from a cognitive point of view. Some of the issues raised are not new to the “digital era”. For preoperational stage children, “the general idea of other is itself challenging … and as … Continue reading
Greenfield and Lack – Role of the brain in peace negotiations (10 March)
Whatever else, Susan Greenfield practises what she preaches. Hers was one of the few lectures I’ve attended at Oxford that used minimal text in the power point slides. Even the Education Department lectures, including e-learning, flood us with text in the … Continue reading
Flow
Interesting concept. Not heard it called this before. Closest thing is “free flow” play in children. Considered so important in child development (learning) that Article 44 of Charter of Human Rights states the child’s Right to Play (not recreation or … Continue reading
Mirror neurons – the debate
Interesting paper AND I like their conclusion: “If you can’t falsify it, it’s no longer a scientific theory, it’s religion”.
