Superhuman or Normal Variation?

Kim CarterBrain Facts, Learning, Learning about Learning

This fascinating infographic highlights a few seemingly superhuman feats of the mind. While we do not disagree that they are amazing, we can’t help but think, “But, of course. With over 7-billion people on our planet, such variation is expected. Spend any time in a classroom and you will see such brains in development!” Which leaves us wondering two things: … Read More

Storytelling’s Impact on Empathy (and the Architecture of the Brain)

Kim CarterBrain Facts, Classroom Culture, Learning, Social Emotional Learning

Paul Zak, who TED Talks describes as, “a pioneer in the field of neuroeconomics,” shares his thoughts and insights on the power of storytelling to affect change in the architecture of the brain in the below video — a collaboration between him, filmmaker Kirby Ferguson, and animator Henrique Barone for the Future of Storytelling conference. He opens with a powerful … Read More

John Cleese Explains the Brain

Kim CarterBrain Facts, Classroom Culture, Language, Learning Challenges

Below is a video from John Cleese’s very “informative” brain podcast (actual content begins around 35 seconds). You’ll notice, of course, that nearly every sentence is almost entirely gibberish. It is humorous to us in large part because . . . John Cleese is a masterful humorist who can make gobbledygook sound sensical, and . . . It is a low stakes … Read More

15 Things About the (Human) Brain

Kim CarterBrain Facts, Learning, Learning about Learning

As we get excited for Brain Awareness Week next week, we thought it might be fun to take a quick look at our amazing brain. Below is an info-graphic from onlineschools with 15 facts you may or may not have known. Number 9 is a great reminder for parents, educators, and health conscious people — we think what we eat.

Walking the (Learning) Walk

Kim CarterAttention, Classroom Culture, Differentiated Instruction, Differentiated Learning, Learning, Strategies for teachers, Whole Child

We find ourselves in something of a paradoxical education landscape. On the one hand we are learning more and more about the science of learning. Neuroscience is pushing the boundaries of the known world on a near daily basis. As a result, our knowledge about working with a variety of minds continues to grow at a phenomenal rate. Yet, numerous policy … Read More

12 Brain Rules

Kim CarterBrain Facts, Differentiated Learning, Learning, Learning about Learning

Below are the 12 Brain Rules developed by John Medina. Each link will take you to his site and to more information about each of the rules. You can find the original list in his book “Brain Rules” and on his Brain Rules website. Enjoy.  EXERCISE | Rule #1: Exercise boosts brain power.  SURVIVAL | Rule #2: The human brain evolved, too.  WIRING … Read More

Your Brain in Love (TEDtalk)

Kim CarterBrain Facts, Social Cognition, Social Emotional Learning

Your Brain — Valentine’s Edition. Here is Helen Fisher’s TED Talk from TED 2008. Helen’s bio on the TED website reads, Anthropologist Helen Fisher studies gender differences and the evolution of human emotions. She’s best known as an expert on romantic love, and her beautifully penned books — including Anatomy of Love and Why We Love — lay bare the … Read More

Your Brain Is Amazing (Short Video)

Kim CarterBrain Facts, Learning

The good folks over at Piled Higher and Deeper created the below video based on their awesome infographic titled, “Your Brain By the Numbers.” Coming it at only 1:17, it is well worth watching and sharing. Enjoy.

Friday Funnies

Kim CarterBrain Facts

Some Friday brain humor. Enjoy. From the Daily Ha Ha: From The MetaPicture: Also from The MetaPicture: Inside a toddler’s brain by Melissa Balmain in Parenting Mag, posted at BuzzFeed: By Mark Parisi via MyTeenageWereWolf: From TaMuse–The Brain’s a Troll: And, finally, the timelessly hilarious Gary Larson’s Far Side, posted on Inebriated Press: