Are they so different?

Back to Digital Kids...

Ian Jukes and Anita Dosaj wrote an article back in 2006 called Understanding Digital Kids (DK). (They have had much more to say since then.) It is a long article, and challenging, in the implications on how we do education.

Much of what I read in current brain research says that our brains wire based on what we experience. That seems to be how God made us. Jukes says that little concept has huge implications. He maintains kids ARE different because their experiences are so different than ours. And if they are different then we may (he would say "do") have to change how we do things in school and home to get through to them. Jukes has great links on his site to presentation notes on Understanding Digital Kids and many others.

Lots to wade through. Much to think about. More posts over time.

Digital Nation

No, I'm not posting on the switch from analog to digital TV. One of the many places I regularly watch for news and helpful info about brain development is MediaWise. There is a recent post on being a Digital Nation that is helpful.

Frontline is doing a series by that name as well. Check back to see what they say.

Here is an exerpt from the MediaWise blog linked above:
At the National Institute on Media and the Family we believe that who we are is wired into our brains a great deal from our experiences. The parent’s job has never been more important. From birth our children are wiring in the people they will become. The digital world is intrinsically powerful and enticing - our brains are hard wired to seek novelty, stimulation and to learn. It’s what’s kept us going as a species for thousands of years. We can control our environment in the digital world, the real world is harder to control. In this era of “disruptive technology” - an era where technology profoundly changes everything, we must learn, and teach our children, to live in both worlds. Core human values, core character traits and how to balance the digital and real world have to be learned.

Eric Jensen resources

Another pioneer in applying brain research is Eric Jensen and brain based learning. A bit commercialized now ("...special offer, buy now and save!") but still lots of good stuff. He has been at it a long time and has much to offer. Check out the downloads and resources.

And it is interesting that music always seems to crop up when you browse about brain based learning. More on that in another post.

Six Thinking Hats

Been away a bit... just finished a move back to MI and full time Fitz Family. Ready to be more consistent with these now.

Six thinking hats. An interesting way to consider how our brains work things out.
Came across this on Mind Tools.

Each "Thinking Hat" is a different style of thinking. These are explained below:

White Hat: focus on the data available, information, analyze past trends, extrapolate from historical data.

Red Hat: look at the decision using intuition, gut reaction, and emotion.

Black Hat: look at things pessimistically, cautiously and defensively. important because it highlights the weak points in a plan or course of action, allows you to prepare contingency plans to counter problems.

Yellow Hat: helps you to think positively, the optimistic viewpoint that helps you to keep going when everything looks gloomy and difficult.

Green Hat: creativity, freewheeling way of thinking, in which there is little criticism of ideas. A whole range of creativity tools can help you here.

Blue Hat: process control, worn by people chairing meetings. When running into difficulties because ideas are running dry, they may direct activity into Green Hat thinking. When contingency plans are needed, they will ask for Black Hat thinking, and so on.