April is Autism Awareness Month. So in this edition there is an article about the science of educating children with autism for you to download.
Plus new research shows how reading skills help maths learning. And more on ADHD, and memory (do you know what the ‘doorway effect’ is? - see Memory below).
Devon Barnes Learning Brain News
Latest Research
Read to Succeed...in Maths Too
Dyslexia research at the University at Buffalo, USA has shown that the way our brain is wired for reading influences how the brain functions for maths.
This startling new discovery suggests learning how to read shapes so much more than just literacy.
More Evidence Sugar is Not Good for Learning and Memory
New research has shown daily consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages during adolescence impairs performance on a learning and memory task during adulthood. While this was a study of rats, the researchers believe the findings apply to humans.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, USA, have confirmed what many teachers already know... that a student’s level of engagement or attention can make things easier or harder to learn.
But significantly they say their research may pave the way for more effective methods to teach people skills quickly, and to a higher level of proficiency.
Changes to Australian Maths Curriculum - April 2021
Proposed revisions to the Australian maths curriculum will be released for public consultation soon.
Maths and science groups briefed on the changes are urging that problem solving skills must be central to how maths is taught.
Click here to read the statement by The Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers, the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute, the Australian Academy of Science and the Mathematical Education Research Group of Australasia.
World Autism Awareness Month is observed every year in April to raise awareness about autism and how it affects people who live with it and those around them.
You can now register for the upcoming webinar: "Building Better Brains” to be held on Wednesday 21 April at 10:00 am Sydney time.
If you can’t attend live, all registrants will have access to the webinar recording.
You will learn about the basic and applied science of brain plasticity, and how brain-plasticity-based cognitive training programs can contribute to improvements in brain function and cognitive performance.
ADHD is sometimes impossible to miss, and other times it’s easy to overlook. Here are the ADHD signs most likely to hide in plain sight, recently published on Additude.
Artificial Intelligence & Learning (a dummy’s guide)
Professor John McCarthy, one of the founding fathers of Artificial Intelligence said, “Every aspect of learning... can in principle be so precisely described that a machine can be made to simulate it.”
Stephen Hawking, the famous theoretical physicist, said “Every aspect of our lives will be transformed by AI” and it could be “the biggest event in the history of our civilisation”.
The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives
The Self-Driven Child offers a combination of cutting-edge brain science, the latest discoveries in behavioural therapy, and case studies drawn from the thousands of kids and teens.
This popular free App creates inspiring, interactive learning experiences for learners aged 10 and above. Learn maths, science, and computer science through fun, bite-sized problem solving explorations.
