Curiosity Corner – April 2024
The Curiosity Corner was suggested by a member committed to lifelong learning. Three suggestions will be offered in each newsletter as something to explore while stirring your cocoa, your cocktail, and your spirit off the hill. If you have new and inspiring articles, podcasts, books, movies, etc. that might spark others’ learning, please share them with jtarlow@psia-rm.org. Sometimes looking outside our own resources can expand our perspectives on our work with others or ourselves. Curious? Happy exploring!
To Start: Before the season’s memories begin to fade, sign up for an interesting Zoom (free) on May 13th titled, Benefits of Forgetting: How It Helps Us Learn, Think, and Thrive. Here is the announcement from Barbara Oakley’s Learning How to Learn newsletter:
“Until recently, most memory scientists believed that forgetting served no purpose. But new research tells a different story: Forgetting is not a failure of our minds. It is good for us – and, alongside memory, it is a required function for our minds to work best. How exactly does forgetting help our cognitive, creative, and decision making abilities? And how do we identify and deal with undesirable forgetting?”
On May 13th, she will explore this topic with Dr. Scott A. Small.
“Scott A. Small is a physician specializing in aging and dementia and a professor of neurology and psychiatry at Columbia University in New York City, where he is the director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. He has co-authored over 120 articles and his neuroimaging and molecular work has led to 7 patents. Dr. Small is also the recipient of numerous research awards and his research has been covered by The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Time. Register here!“
Secondly, if your off season time involves planning for next season’s assessments, or just building your understanding in any area of interest, here is Olav Schewe’s short TEDx talk called, The Power of How. Listen at 3:24 ask he explores the difference between asking Can-based questions that imply what you want to do might not be possible. The shift to ”How can I learn more effectively?” can change your mindset to help you become solution-oriented on the way to success!
Finally, wrap up your teaching season with a look at the soon to be named new National Team and postings from this year’s National Academy. Over the off season time(or during your summer in ski boots!), inventory your teaching and learning strengths and weaknesses, and dream up some clinic topics you’d like to suggest to your school or region to bring some new professional development opportunities to light!!