In today's economy, traveling to see renowned educators and authors speak at national conferences and seminars is no longer an option for many K-12 educators. Beginning this month, however, educators will have the opportunity to hear from nationally recognized experts in education, technology and neuroscience with the launch of a new series of Virtual Brain Seminars presented by Scientific Learning (NASDAQ:SCIL), makers of the Fast ForWord® and Reading Assistant™ family of products.
During the live webinar series, nationally acclaimed speakers, including Willard R. Daggett and Alan November, will discuss cutting-edge research and strategies to address current education challenges, improve teaching and accelerate learning for all students. Participants will also hear from K-12 educators who have successfully implemented innovative brain fitness solutions in their schools and measurably improved learning for diverse populations, including general education, at-risk, English language learner, Response to Intervention (RtI), and special education students.
The Virtual Brain Seminars kick off Feb. 28 with presentations by Dr. Martha Burns, a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and adjunct associate professor at Northwestern University, and Sherrelle Walker, chief education officer for Scientific Learning. In "The New Science of Learning: Brain Fitness for All Ages," Burns discusses the latest neuroscience research into how the brain learns, a topic of growing interest to K-12 educators eager to improve learning for students of all ages and ability levels. In a 30-minute session titled, "Changing Lives Through the Application of Research," Walker then explains the practical application of this research in K-12 education, including strategies for integrating brain fitness into district instructional plans to accelerate learning and results for many populations. Burns and Walker will conduct these seminars again on March 9 and April 27. Each airs at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Pacific time.
On March 18 Dr. Willard R. Daggett, an expert in moving education systems toward more rigorous, relevant skills and knowledge for all students, leads a Virtual Brain Seminar on "Our Changing Education Landscape." In his presentation, Daggett describes the unprecedented and interrelated challenges facing schools today, including those related to student performance, leadership, finances, and the effective use of technology. Participants will learn how K-12 educators can work to proactively address these challenges in today's accountability-driven education climate. Daggett is the CEO of the International Center for Leadership in Education, and author of numerous books about learning and education, textbooks and research studies, reports and journal articles.
The April 12th Virtual Brain Seminar features Alan November, an international leader in education technology. In his presentation, titled "Creating a New Culture of Teaching and Learning," November discusses the rise of a new culture of empowered teaching and fearless learning, and how access to more timely information and communication tools can empower educators to focus on the individual learning needs of their students. Participants will learn how these tools can create more collegiality, build stronger community relationships, and empower students to be more self-directed. November, who is a senior partner and founder of November Learning, is the author of the best-selling book, "Empowering Students with Technology," and numerous articles on the emerging roles of teachers and students and restructuring with technology.
Polyphenol-rich Mediterranean diets could help keep the brain younger