2012 Conference Keynotes
Thursday, August 9, 8:00 am
Dr. James Zull
Applying neuroscience to educate for meaningful learning
James Zull will inspire us to think of new ways to shape educational experiences, informed by the insights from neuroscience. As James states, “…the primary objective of education is to understand human learning” and “all other objectives depend on achieving this understanding”. Thus we are challenged to acquire and then apply neuroscience to our own future learning and to our teaching.
In his research, James presents cognitive development as a journey taken by the brain, as an organ shaped by experience and environment into potentially to the most exquisite force in the universe, the human mind. At a time when technology brings us a wealth of information within seconds, James argues that educational transformation is dependent upon our understanding of current neuroscience research. Unlocking the mysteries of cognition and metacognition will help us shape the future of our own and learners’ education.
James Zull is Professor of Biology and of Biochemistry and Director of The University Center for Innovation in Teaching and Education (UCITE) at Case Western Reserve University. After 25 years of scientific research, he turned his interest toward understanding how brain research can inform teaching. Building on his background in cell-cell communication, his experience with human learning and teaching at UCITE, and drawing on the increasing knowledge about the human brain, led to authoring his acclaimed books, The Art of Changing the Brain, followed by From Brain to Mind: Using Neuroscience to Guide Change in Education.
NOTE: Spotlight Discussion 1, Thursday, August 9, 10:30-11:15 am
Participants have the opportunity to ask follow-up questions regarding Dr. Zull's opening keynote. In addition, he will discuss his book From Brain to Mind: Using Neuroscience to Guide Change in Education (2011).
Friday, August 10, 12:15 pm
Judy Brown
Learning in hand with mobile technology
Mobile devices continue to proliferate. We’ve heard mobile technology will revolutionize online teaching and learning. In the case of apps, the numbers are amazing: 18 billion Apple product apps and 10 billion Android product apps downloaded by the end of 2011. But exactly how should we use these for effective education and training? Judy Brown will provide a glimpse into applications of current mobile devices and apps for effective instruction/training.
Judy will also share her vision of ways mobile devices and apps will evolve to meet future learning needs. With the prediction of over 40 billion apps downloaded in 5 years, it’s an understatement to say that these tools will be ubiquitous. The relevant question will shift from, “Will these be used?” to “How do I efficiently find and use or build apps to extend learning?”
Judy Brown is a Mobile Learning Strategic Analyst, working with clients in higher education including the Academic Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Co-Lab in partnership with the Department of Defense. Judy has over 25 years of experience conducting research on new instructional directions and related technologies for the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin Technical College System. Judy curates a weekly mobile learning newsletter and founded and maintains the mLearnopedia website and blog, providing a wealth of current information and resources on mobile teaching and learning. See http://mlearnopedia.com/ and http://mlearnopedia.blogspot.com/ for more details.
