What made this illegitimate son of a peasant girl and a notary to become one of the most famous artists, inventors and scientists who ever lived? We all know Leonardo de Vinci (1452-1519) as a famous artist (e.g. The Mona Lisa, The Sistine Chapel and The Last Supper). His talent is world-renowned and his work [...]
We are constantly encouraging our preschoolers to use their imagination, and seek out educational videos and games to help them develop their brain through creativity. We post their art on our refrigerators, and praise each learning skill. Yet, when they get into school we stop the encouragement of creativity by allowing our schools to teach [...]
We often speak about lateral and vertical thinking, but what exactly does that mean, and how does it differ from traditional teachings? Is it best to go with the flow of tradition, or look for answers to complex problems through a different process? Vertical Thinkers Are methodical and take things step-by-step Do not like to [...]
A good listener is not born with this skill, they learn it and it takes time. You will be amazed at the areas that open up to you when you only take the time to actually process the information others are giving you, and respond accordingly. Psychologists, therapists, communication experts and memory experts are constantly [...]
A friend of mine, the mother of four, once said that if she could make a wish it would be for a machine to hold children in suspended animation until they get through puberty, and we could educate them through headphones. It was a joke, but many parents of teens feel this is a great [...]
Even cavemen had to remember things they saw and sensed in order to survive, so the search for the way to retain memory has been around since the beginning of our time. Cavemen learned through observation, experience, repetition and trial-and-error – much the way we learn today. The poet Simonides, in 477 B.C., came up [...]
Research from the Alzheimer’s Association’s first ever conference, in 2005, shows that it’s never too late to begin putting your mind into top shape for the future. The more you do to be brain healthy the better your chances at preventing disease that could cost your memory – like Alzheimer’s. Here are a few suggestions [...]
Hunting down the specific gene, or set of genes, that comprise our memory has proven to be as elusive as tracking down the Lock Ness monster. Researchers have been trying for decades to target the “intelligence genes†in order to find out if intelligence is inherited, or a result of the environment. They also believe [...]
Neuroplasticity, or brain plasticity, is the ability for our brains to reorganize neural pathways to make room for new experiences in our lives. It forms the basis for our personality, our behaviors, our emotions, our creativity and our whole life in general. As our experiences are taken in our brain is processing it and making [...]
There is an “out of the box†teaching method called “constructivism†that asks teachers to depart from their traditional teaching methods and encourages interaction and questions. They believe the best way for a child to learn is through the senses, causing the brain to build a full understanding of things around them. Constructivism is a [...]
