Second International School On Mind, Brain And Education
2008, May 22-26
Basic and applied topics
in biological rhythms and learning
Directors: Antonio M. Battro and Kurt W. Fischer
Program officer: María Lourdes Majdalani
University of Texas, Arlington. USA
A paradigm for meeting educational challenges & building connections
In this presentation I highlight the basic cognitive and neural systems that contribute to effective teaching and learning, and discuss how high-stake testing is a threat to both. In particular I focus on the situation in United States where students and teachers are unable to fully profit from effective pedagogy or research because of the conflicts created by the current testing paradigm. To address the unintended consequences from using current evaluation tools, the agendas and insights of all vested parties (i.e., policy makers, parents, educators, school administrators and researchers must be addressed and better coordinated. One strategy to coordinate efforts and increase collaboration is through the creation of learning communities. Alternatively called the "research schools project," this initiative brings together all members of the community committed to improving education. I offer one vision of how this collaboration can unfold.