To learn important lessons for all parents and educators, we interview today Eric Jensen, a former middle school teacher and former adjunct professor for several universities including the University of California, San Diego. Mr. Jensen co-founded the Learning Brain Expo, a conference for educators, and has written 21 books on the brain and learning. His most recent book, Enriching the Brain: How to Maximize Every Learner’s Potential (Jossey-Bass, 2006), is highly recommended for educators and parents alike.Alvaro Fernandez (AF): Eric, thank you for your time. Can you explain the role that you and your organization play?Eric Jensen (EJ): We act as translators between the neuroscience and education fields, helping to build a Brain-Based Education movement. We launched the first conference that attempted to bridge these two worlds in 1998. The goal of the conference, called Learning Expo, was for teachers to speak to scientists, and, equally important, for scientists to speak to educators.Critics say that neuroscience research can add little to educational practices. What we say is that, whereas it is true that much needs to be clarified, there are already clear implications from brain research that educators should be aware of. For example, four important elements that are often neglected by educators, given the obsessive focus on academic scores, are nutrition, physical exercise, stress management, and overall mental enrichment.AF: Since 1998? How would you characterize the progress so far?EJ: The good news is that today many educators, more than ever, are learning about how the brain works. There is a growing number of academic programs such as Harvard’s masters program in Mind, Brain, and Education, and peer-reviewed journals such as the Mind, Brain and Education Journal.Still, there are clear areas for improvement. Too many staff developers are weak on the science. I see too many books saying “brain” in the title that are not grounded in any brain research. Something I always recommend when shopping for books is to check the References section, making sure the book references specific studies in credible journals from 2000 on.AF: Now, those are mostly awareness-related initiatives. What, if any, are the implications in daily teaching and learning in schools?EJ: You are right, this is still an emerging field. A number of private, independent, forward-thinking public schools and charter schools are implementing specific initiatives, mostly around brain-based teaching strategies, nutrition and exercise. But these are tougher for some public schools, which have limited resources and flexibility. to implement. We also see an growing number of enlightened parents learning about the principles we discuss and applying them at home.AF: Have you seen any impact at the policy level? specifically, what do you think about the current debate about the merits or demerits of No Child Left Behind?EJ: I agree with the move towards accountability. Now, the question is, accountability for what? for creating narrow, specific test scores? or for helping nourish better human beings. I have seen very little policy activity in the US; some in Asian countries such as Singapore and China, that are evaluating how to refine the curriculum for 5-10 year olds. In the US, there was a major push for music enrichment programs, that was somehow misguided, in the late 90s. The problem is that, whereas it is clear that enrichment has an impact, it is tough to measure specifically what type of enrichment, since much of the benefit develops over time. The short term “stock-market” mentality that measures student growth over a few weeks or months has to be tempered by long-term measures, too.For example, it seems clear that there are important skills that can be trained, that make for a better and more successful human being – such as the ability to defer gratification, sequencing, emotional intelligence, improved working memory, vocabulary, and processing skills. However, the type of assessments used today to measure schools’ performance don’t focus on these. We would need broader assessments to allow educators to focus on those important long-term skills, beyond the immediate pressures.A specific area going from bad to worse is the level of stress in the system, and the lack of resources and knowledge to regulate it.AF: You mention processing skills, as well as other cognitive skills. In your recent column you highlight Scientific Learning’s computer program that can train auditory processing. What’s your view on the role of computer-based programs?EJ: It is encouraging to see programs based on extensive research, such as Scientific Learning’s. I appreciate the value of such programs to tailor individualized interventions to the needs of specific kids. So I believe these programs present a huge potential.Now, we must not confuse what is just one narrow tool with a whole enrichment program. Brain-based education also must take into account other important factors such as nutrition, physical exercise, the arts, stress management, social interactions…Copyright (c) 2008 SharpBrains
What Every Parent and Educator Should Know About Enriching Young Brains and Minds
Purchasing the Best Car Insurance
In the past, car insurance was not a necessity, as some people went for it and some did not. However, today an auto coverage policy is one of the crucial things in your life, if you own a car. People need proper coverage, no matter how luxurious or modest their car is.The way people buy insurance has also changed. In the past, buying a car insurance just meant to meet your neighborhood agent and ask him for it. But now, it is somewhat different, as you have got lots of other options at your disposal from where you can get your vehicle insured, with some entirely new coverage choices.Buying car insurance: Which method to choose?When you want insurance for your car, you might be puzzled as from where you should get it. Should you deal with an insurance agent or should you go online? You can choose among different options for getting your car insurance. This includes:
Buying from captive agents
Buying from independent agents
Buying online
People, who prefer personal services and like to form face-to-face relationships, should certainly purchase their policy from an agent. But, since there are different agents, they need to decide which one is the best for them.Among these, some are called ‘independent agents,’ who sell insurance for numerous companies and some are ‘captive agents,’ who sell insurance for just one firm. Let us see the different features of these agents, so that you can decide easily and quickly the right agent for yourself.1. Buying from captive agentsYou should buy your coverage from a captive agent, if you are dedicated to a specific insurance firm. Since captive agents deal with only one company, they will know all the different insurance options offered by that company. And, thus they can assist you to build the right package based on your needs. However, captive agents may take more time to respond to your questions and to know your needs as compared to independent agents who work for commission.2. Buying from independent agentsYou should buy a policy from an independent agent, if you want to check out the different insurances provided by different companies, as independent agents deal with several companies and not just one particular insurance firm. This way you can get a better rate.And, since independent agents are not directly employed by any one firm, they would not push one specific product and will tell you the right things about all the insurances. Thus, independent agents can aid you to find inexpensive coverage for your car. However, since they work for commission, they are under more pressure to grab a deal as soon as possible.3. Buying onlineThe third option is to skip insurance agents completely and to work directly with the company online. However, for this you have to do most of the work yourself. You have to conduct a thorough research on different coverage providers, what they offer, the rates of their insurance, and what all their policies covers. Then, you can talk to the company, that best fits your needs to procure the coverage itself.Among these, some insurance companies that employ agents do not necessitate you to work with them and a few of them do not employ agents at all. Buying auto insurance online is one of the best options for you if you do not have much time and want to get inexpensive car insurance, as it saves you from paying commission to an insurance agent. If you are not sure about your car insurance needs, then buying car insurance online, without an insurance agent can cause you to buy the wrong, too little, or too much insurance.Select your type of coverageBesides deciding which company to go with, you must also consider which policy you want. There are three main types of policies, including traditional, usage-based, and per-mile car insurance. So, have a look at these three car insurance coverage programs before you settle for one particular car insurance.1. Traditional auto insuranceIn this type of auto insurance, the insurers determine the quotes for the policy with the help of various personal factors, such as your age, driving history, gender, credit score, etc. Generally, the more risk you have as a driver as per these factors, the more high your insurance rates will be. In this, you can opt for a minimum coverage amount as per the state law or else you can select from a long list of different types of auto insurance coverage.2. Usage-based auto insuranceAs opposed to the traditional car insurance, where insurers presume your driving skills depending on a list of different risk factors and your accident history, usage-based car insurance providers offer you car insurance by seeing you in action in real. In this type of car insurance, like Allstate’s Drivewise or Progressive’s Snapshot, you get a telematic device, which you have to plug-in your car. This device records how you drive and your driving behavior, especially your bad driving habits like accelerating or hard braking.So, if the device records that you are a low-risk driver, then you can save your money with usage-based car insurance. However, if it records that you frequently drive late at night or you drive fast, then it would not help you save money with your car insurance. Additionally, many usage-based car insurance programs are not available in each state. Therefore, if you are devoted to one insurance company, then you may have to switch your company, in case you move to a different state.3. Per-mile auto insurancePer-mile auto insurance providers also use a telematic device, but they focus on just one thing, that is how little or how much you use your car. However, this car insurance type is still new and is not available in every state. Among others, Metromile is the best provider of per-mile car insurance and is available in seven states until now, which are California, Illinois, Oregon, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington, and Virginia.Additionally, per-mile providers use the same elements as traditional insurers in determining your car insurance rates, but you can save some money through its telematic device. If you do not use your car much and use it only for emergencies, then your premium may be cut significantly. However, if you normally drive your car, then there are fewer chances of you saving money from it.Shop aroundNo matter how you purchase your insurance, whether you go for a dedicated agent or you directly sign up with a car insurance provider, you must shop around in order to get the best rates. Do some homework and do not just settle for the first deal that comes your way. This is because rates for the same policy can differ from one company to the other by thousands of dollars. Therefore, comparing different car insurance offers is the best possible way to land up a good deal.
Vitamin deficiency: Symptoms and Causes
Vitamins are an extremely important micronutrients that our body needs for daily activities. Each and every vitamin is necessary for body organs to function appropriately. We generally derive vitamins from the foods we eat. If we lack any of these essential vitamins, it can cause several complications in our body, including breathing issues and memory loss.
Vitamins are a type of micronutrients which have extreme essentialities for the body. There are mainly 13 vitamins,Guest Posting and each of them are necessary for the body organs to function properly on a daily basis. And lack of these crucial vitamins can cause serious complications to the body. In fact the lack of vitamins in the body is identified as vitamin deficiency.
Vitamin deficiency is a very common health concern these days that millions of people are suffering from. You can develop vitamin deficiency because of low vitamin intakes and certain medical conditions. The effects of vitamin deficiency on the body can be very hazardous.
10 primary effects of lack of vitamins are:
Shortness of breath: Lack of vitamin B12 interrupts the production of red blood cells in the body. This causes complications in the transportation of oxygen throughout the body, which results in shortness of breath during regular activities.
Tingling sensation in fingers and toes: Vitamin deficiency has an effect on the nervous system, mainly on the nerve endings which leads to the tingling sensation in fingers and toes.
Numbness on hands and feet: Vitamin B12 helps to maintain the nervous system of our body, and lack of this vitamin can reduce the function of nerves in the body. Hence, you may feel numbness or less sensation on the hands and feet.
Vision problems: Vitamin A is very crucial for the protection of light sensing cells of the eyes. Lack of this vitamin may cause vision problems and even blindness in the long run.
Poor memory: Deficiency of vitamin D and B12 hugely impact the brain’s memory recalling ability, which can cause memory loss and even Alzheimer’s disease.
Bleeding gums: Bleeding gum is a quite common problem that is caused by rough brushing techniques. However, lack of vitamin C can cause bleeding gum issues. Vitamin C deficiency can also cause tooth loss in severe cases.
Mouth ulcer: Studies have found that mouth ulcers are the result of lack of vitamin B and iron in the body.
Brittle nails and hair: There are multiple reasons behind fragile nails and hair, and one of the reasons is lack of vitamin B7 which is widely known as biotin. Biotin mainly helps in strengthening hair and nails.
Hair fall: Hair fall or hair loss is one of the common symptoms of vitamin deficiency. Niacin and biotin are extremely important for the growth and strength of hair.
Poor wound healing: Multiple vitamins help in the wound healing process. Low levels of vitamin A, B, C, and D can cause slow wound healing.
What are the causes of vitamin deficiency?
Poor diet: As our body naturally does not produce vitamins, we derive them from the food we eat on a everyday basis. Our diet must consist of several vitamin enriched foods. People who are vegetarian can develop vitamin B12 and biotin deficiency, as meat is highly rich in these vitamins.
Lack of sunlight: Vitamin D is extremely important to keep our teeth, bones and muscles strong. You can have vitamin D from different dietary items such as eggs, seafood, and dairy products. However, sunlight is one of the main sources of vitamin D. Lack of exposure to the sunlight can lead to vitamin D deficiency, which can cause tooth loss, loss of bone density and osteoporosis.
Medical condition: Certain medical conditions can cause trouble for your body to metabolize or absorb important vitamins. This can cause vitamin D deficiency in the long run. Chronic liver disease, kidney disease, diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, gastric bypass can affect your body’s ability to absorb vitamins.
Smoking: Many studies have found that the chances of getting biotin, niacin, and vitamin D deficiency are higher in heavy smokers.
Alcohol use disorder: Too much consumption of alcohol can damage your digestive system. And a damaged digestive system can impact your body’s capability of synthesizing vitamin B12.
Certain medicines: Certain medicines including cholesterol lowering medicines and steroids can restrict your body to absorb vitamins completely.
Pernicious anemia: Pernicious anemia disease is one of a kind of autoimmune disease which affects our intestine causing decreased absorption of vitamin 12. This leads to deficient measures of healthy red blood cells.
These are the five common reasons for vitamin deficiency. However, if you are having any symptoms of vitamin deficiency then you should consult your general health care provider as soon as possible. Untreated vitamin deficiency can harmfully affect your body organs in the long run. The diagnosis of vitamin deficiency is usually not included in a routine health checkup. To diagnose any type of vitamin deficiency, your doctor would ask you about your symptoms and then would suggest you take a vitamin profile test. A complete vitamin profile test will help evaluate different vitamin levels in your body. Vitamin test price is quite reasonable. Call your nearest diagnostic center to know the vitamin test cost.
After the diagnosis of vitamin deficiency, your doctor will give you medicines based upon which vitamin deficiency you have. Along with the medicines, you have to add vitamin enriched foods on your everyday diet. To treat vitamin deficiency you have to eat a lot of fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk, fish, seafood, and red meat. Also, it is important to avoid smoking and drinking alcohol for a healthy living.