Guest Blogger

Guest bloggers can write original posts for the Brainscape blog from time to time. If you are interested in writing a post for the Brainscape blog, or if you have a post you think would make for a good guest post on the blog, feel free to contact Amanda at amoritz@brain-scape.com. Relevant topics include: cognitive science, learning and memory, language learning, entrepreneurship, Brainscape :), and test prep. Thanks!

Guest Blogger's Posts

What Should Schools Take Away from Churches?

By Guest Blogger, 10/30/2012 at 7:37 am

Alain de Botton Guest Post from Sam Seidenberg:

Alain de Botton is a Swiss writer, entrepreneur, and longtime proponent of the relevance and practical benefits of philosophy. He is the author of several bestsellers, including How Proust Can Change Your Life, The Consolations of Philosophy, Status Anxiety, and The Architecture of Happiness. In his latest work, Religion for Atheists, de Botton argues that while the mystical aspects of religion may be false, religions still have useful features that secular society would benefit from appropriating.

Why, you ask, is this book being featured on a blog about brains and studying? Well, here at Brainscape, we’re also very interested in the future of education, and de Botton renders an intriguing portrayal of a University of the future in the Education chapter of Religion for Atheists.

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The One Graph that Says it All…

By Guest Blogger, 10/25/2012 at 6:28 am

Learning has flatlined

Guest Post by Samuel Seidenberg:
In this energetic TED Talk, Eddie Obeng explains that the rate of technological, social, and cultural change is beginning to outpace the rate at which we learn how to react to new things. In other words, we’ve got to Learn Faster.

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Sports Advice That Will Improve Your SAT Score

By Guest Blogger, 10/16/2012 at 6:30 am

Guest post by Edward Haines:

Preparing for the SAT is tough, not only because of the test itself, but because most students are over scheduled with classwork, activities, maybe music, work and/or sports as well.

Those who are involved in sports realize the value of good coaching and advice on how to train. When it comes to training to improve SAT skills, a little of the right advice goes a long way. (more…)

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Why “Schoolhouse” Rocks

By Guest Blogger, 10/15/2012 at 2:03 pm

The One World School House

Guest Post by Sam Seidenberg:

I had planned to pull Salman Khan’s new book, The One World Schoolhouse, off the “New Nonfiction” table towards the front of Barnes & Noble. Instead, I found it tucked away in that dark, dreary, and forgotten corner known as the Education section. While the main subject of School House may be education, that stygian den is not where this bookshould be.

This book should be in the center of every bookstore foyer. It should be resting on a gold-fringed satin pillow atop a marble pedestal. It should be illuminated by a soft white light from above, and it should be guarded by two tiny, winged cherubim (both sopranos, preferably) floating gently on either side.

Why? Because it’s more than just a book. It’s a roadmap for the education reform the world has needed for decades.
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Are Morning Routines Killing our Creativity?

By Guest Blogger, 7/9/2012 at 8:05 am

Guest Post from Kathy McGurk:

As I sit here writing, I wonder how I can creatively draw your attention to this post, hook you in, and make you want to continue reading. I’m struggling, when it all of a sudden hits me—my lack of creativity has a lot to do with what I did this morning! Well now I may as well just come right out and say it, with creativity notably lacking, our morning routines are killing our creativity!

In an insightful PsychologyToday article, Annie Murphy Paul highlights the frightening idea that “…the way most of us spend our morning is exactly counter to the conditions that neuroscientists and cognitive psychologists tell us promote flexible, open-minded thinking.” The article pinpoints 4 common morning routines that should be put on trial for killing our creativity. (more…)

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Keep Your Brain in Shape!

By Guest Blogger, 5/8/2012 at 7:11 am

Get Smart with the Top Five Exercises for Your Mind

It’s easy to think of learning as something that only happens in formal classroom settings, but lifelong learning is an important element in keeping your brain nimble. Learning can continue long after you complete your bachelor’s degree by integrating simple brain-exercising routines into your daily life. These routines will help you feel more productive at the end of the day, and also foster your growth as both an intellectual and an individual.

To get your brain in shape after a long period of resting, consider the following top five activities you can include in your intellectual exercise regimen: (more…)

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DrTechniko shows us “How to teach programming on the playground”

By Guest Blogger, 4/25/2012 at 8:40 am

Technology is climbing at exponential rates and we have a hard time keeping up. At the heart of all of this is information technology. Massive data processing, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology are some of the hottest areas that in a few years will become integrated within our lives. In fact some already have.

All these technologies have their foundations on computer science. Wouldn’t it be great if we could teach our kids to think like computer scientists? (more…)

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Acclimating Yourself to an Online Curriculum

By Guest Blogger, 4/11/2012 at 7:07 am

One of the most exciting and important decisions you will make during your lifetime is which college to attend. This decision used to consist of simply determining which location fit your needs best by considering such factors as geography, cost and available programs. Now you can add another factor to your list: do you want to attend a brick-and-mortar school at all, or would you prefer to study through an online program? You are no longer required to uproot your entire life to move halfway across the country if you wish to continue your education. However, there are many unique challenges that you will face when attending school online.

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Newly Discovered Benefits of Daydreaming

By Guest Blogger, 4/3/2012 at 7:28 am

Daydreaming has long been a point of contention for school administrators and employers alike, as it’s usually interpreted as a sign of distraction and disinterest. But there’s a new perspective on this classic pastime for passing the time! Now a study released by researchers from the University of Wisconsin suggests that people who daydream might have a higher working memory. The study has received considerable media attention because it points to a possibility that many administrators and HR reps would be loathe to admit: daydreaming might just be good for your mind.

While this study certainly doesn’t speak for all daydreamers, the basic conclusions drawn from it are still worth investigating. Let’s take a look at the basic message to take away from the new perspective on daydreaming and what it might mean for the average person. (more…)

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