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
Alabama Homeowners Insurance
Your home is an important aspect of family safety and comfort as well as your personal/family finances. If anything you own deserves protection with insurance, it is your home. With that being said, the search for the best Alabama homeowners insurance begins. To find the best coverage, you need to know what you are up against. That is, what risk factors are important, the average cost you can expect, where to get information, how to shop and what companies provide Alabama homeowners insurance. With this ammunition in hand, you will be ready to gather online rate quotes to compare rates and find the best deal out there for you.Statistics Concerning Alabama Homeowners Insurance There are some statistics concerning the geography of Alabama that affect severely the cost of insuring your home. To begin with, the average sea level for the entire state of Alabama is only 8 feet. This means that most of the state is very susceptible to flooding. Alabama also ranks 13thin tornado frequency. The northern area of the state experiences a higher than average amount of earthquakes, which means earthquake coverage for your home should be considered if you live in this region. Possibly the biggest issue, especially for those in the southern part of the state, are the hurricanes coming from the Gulf of Mexico. Areas that are, year in and year out, in the path of hurricanes are great risks for homeowners insurance companies, and that is certainly the case with Alabama.The Cost of Alabama Homeowners Insurance Alabama homeowners insurance is significantly more expensive than the national average. The yearly average cost of home insurance in Alabama in 2010 was $797.00. That is $127 more than the national average and makes Alabama the 9thmost costly state in the nation to insure a home. This is due mostly to the fact that Alabama homes and residents have to battle severe hurricane seasons and prevalent flooding. To offset this higher cost, you can take the initiative to lower your rates a bit. First, secure your home with storm shutters, deadbolt locks, a security system and motion sensing outside lights. Second, shop around to compare rates before making your purchase.Alabama Homeowners Insurance CompaniesWhen shopping for Alabama homeowners insurance you will notice there are numerous companies offering insurance for your home. In your local area, you will most likely find local insurance agents representing major insurance providers, but you will also find a few local or regional providers. Visiting the websites of these companies or making a phone call to learn more about each company is a good way to begin your search for quality coverage.Here are a few Alabama homeowners insurance companies to consider as you begin your search.AllState
Colonial Company
GEICO
Gene Jones Insurance
Jimmy Stewart CPCU
NationwideDon’t relegate yourself to just these companies, as there are quite a few more available to Alabama residents. As you shop, you will undoubtedly come across more insurers and it would be a smart move to use them in your comparisons as well. In many cases, when you get your rate quotes from an online affiliate site, one or more of the quotes may come from a company you have never heard of. When that happens, certainly take a little more time to find out about that provider.AlabamaHomeowners Insurance ResourcesOnline resources are great to help you when shopping for homeowners insurance and later on when specific issues/problems arise. If you have any issues with your insurance provider, you have recourse in a couple of areas. The local branch of the Alabama Better Business Bureau can be of help, as well as a resource when shopping for the right company. You can also report your complaint to the Alabama Department of Insurance if you want serious action taken. It can also be a great resource for advice, tips and information on changing insurance regulations regarding Alabama homeowners insurance.
Online Jobs Working From Home – Good Way to Make Money
The Web Wide World is the best place to search for online jobs. There is a host of options that are available to anybody who is interested in making money from online jobs. There are millions of people who work from home. If you are tired of your office job and are looking to work fulltime from home there are countless opportunities that are there.These online jobs are a perfect way to earn good money from the comforts of your home. There is a wide array of work to choose from. You can choose to do simple data entry work, freelancing and many other kinds of jobs. You might also want to engage in online business wherein you will buy and sell goods over the internet. There is no limit to how much you can earn doing online work. Also, there is no investment that you need to make when you start working online. There are some sites that might charge you some money for registration but by and large most of the sites are free.All that you need to get started is an internet connection. You can do a Google search on the kind of work that you are eager to do and you are sure to find a plethora of options that would open up before you. It is important that you do good research before you take the plunge. Online work is a great way to make a lot of money. With some determination and effort you will be on your way to earn really well.