Introduction It has always been important for success to be aware of the cognitive thinking skills and mental frameworks one uses to understand their environment, solve problems, and to impact change.  Now in the 21st century technology has presented new challenges including primarily the quick availability of incredible amounts of information, the facility of fast […]

A theory of brain usage from a guidance counselor’s perspective  Learning spaces are always a balance between students taking “in” information and students transferring information already “in” outwards through some action.  A standard example would be a student listening to his teacher (input) and a student writing a creative essay (output).  In general schools tend […]

The traditional American schooling years are from 5-18.  During this time students usually progress through elementary then middle or junior high school, and finally to high school.  Most high schools encompass the grades of 9-12 (approximate ages 14-18).  High school serves as the end point in mandatory public education, and for many students they perceive […]

My favorite characterization of a learner has always been in the form of an explorer.  Explorers are self-directed and motivated, take risks, yearn for discovery, and are fueled by the unknown.  They seek to make sense of the world for themselves and then for others.  From an early age my greatest motivation to learn has […]

The direction of education is out and around.  By that I mean with every passing day more learning takes place outside of school walls, and surrounds us.  The standard educational system from the last hundred years has been heavily invested in financially, socially and culturally, and for that reason most likely will stick around in […]

What are the underlying brain mechanisms at work when one visualizes what they know, and the information becomes one’s own?  How does the synthesis of knowledge become visualized in the mind?  The goal of this paper is to better understand the brain functions that allow a student to visualize, and imagine abstract concepts.  If we […]

For any learning community to retain teachers and students (especially first timers) it is critical to maintain trust, value, guidance, and the feeling of being special.  Study after study has shown that teaching and learning is “not about the money.”  Teachers will teach for free, and students will pay infinite sums of money if they […]

I have never been one for super sappy, “this is what makes it worth it” stories about education, but I must admit there is something extremely powerful, gripping, and satisfying when a student reaches out to you on their own accord in order to maintain a connection, after they are no longer under your care.  My […]

Being clear minded is an ongoing struggle.  Focus and distraction both have their strengths and should be used efficiently for optimal effectiveness, for I fear one has a limited amount of each at any given time.

I find that when I am most tired my brain seems to act the most divergently.  It is almost as if the neural signals get lost, which either results in clicking send on a terribly misspelled and awkward email to my boss intended for my mother asking her to fix my favorite boxers, or writing […]