Features

“I’m sorry Dave. I can’t do that.” Some may recognize these lines from a pivotal scene in Stanley Kubrick’s classic film 2001: A Space Odyssey, a science fiction epic about a crew of scientists and astronauts on an interplanetary mission. Controlling flight operations aboard the spacecraft is a digital artificial intelligence—the HAL 9000, referred to as “HAL,” a sentient supercomputer which, through its programming, has developed human-like “consciousness” and reasoning abilities.

Connecting abstract thinking to real world applications—or put another way, “keeping it real.” If you are a math teacher, this is a challenge that you are likely to face every day in your classroom, especially when working with young learners.

Motivation is shaped by a student’s goals, beliefs, and emotions. Motivated students set meaningful goals, believe in their ability to succeed, and feel positive about their work. Learner motivation is influenced by three key factors: beliefs about themselves, their emotional state, and the environment around them.

The lack of organization and structure in a classroom, especially in elementary school, can quickly spiral into a state of uncontrolled chaos. In this type of atmosphere, a teacher will be forced to spend most of their time addressing behavioral disruptions that may be occurring in the classroom instead of creating learning experiences that would benefit their students.

Navigating the process required for a student with disabilities to qualify for the services they need to access the same educational opportunities as their peers without disabilities can seem complicated and challenging. This is especially true for families and teachers who may care for or work with a student eligible for special education support. Demystifying the process can help families and teachers in protecting that student’s right to a meaningful education.

Music is a powerful tool that can influence an individual’s behavior. It can be a catalyst that sets behavior in motion, reinforces patterns of behavior, or even acts as a form of communication. Music is universal and a part of our everyday human experience.

When people think of early childhood education, what frequently comes to mind are the benefits that these programs can provide as measured by the skills a child has developed by the time they start kindergarten.

When you stop and think about how the body moves, it is an incredible feat. Our bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nervous system work together to enable us to do even the simplest of movements. If any one of these components is not working properly, a person’s movement will be erratic, uncoordinated, and unbalanced.

Watching an athletic event such as football, basketball, or any other team sport involving lots of high-intensity player action can be fun and exciting. But what many people may not realize is that one of the most important positions on the team is working on the sidelines. These are the athletic trainers whose job is to prevent player injuries and to provide rehabilitative services when injuries do happen.

Whether it is within an educational, corporate, nonprofit, or government setting, the level of performance of the individuals that make up an organization largely depends on the quality of the training they receive. An employee who does not receive the proper training to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to do their job will not perform well.