Tag Archives: Education

In My Hands Today…

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Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning – James M. Lang

Employ cognitive theory in the classroom every day Research into how we learn has opened the door for utilizing cognitive theory to facilitate better student learning. But that’s easier said than done. Many books about cognitive theory introduce radical but impractical theories, failing to make the connection to the classroom.

In “Small Teaching” James Lang presents a strategy for improving student learning with a series of modest but powerful changes that make a big difference, many of which can be put into practice in a single class period. These strategies are designed to bridge the chasm between primary research and the classroom environment in a way that can be implemented by any faculty in any discipline, and even integrated into pre-existing teaching techniques. Learn, for example: How does one become good at retrieving knowledge from memory? How does making predictions now help us learn in the future? How do instructors instill fixed or growth mindsets in their students?

Each chapter introduces a basic concept in cognitive theory, explains when and how it should be employed, and provides firm examples of how the intervention has been or could be used in a variety of disciplines. Small teaching techniques include brief classroom or online learning activities, one-time interventions, and small modifications in course design or communication with students.

In My Hands Today…

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The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades – Judith C. Hochman, Natalie Wexler

The Writing Revolution (TWR) provides a clear method of instruction that you can use no matter what subject or grade level you teach. The model, also known as The Hochman Method, has demonstrated, over and over, that it can turn weak writers into strong communicators by focusing on specific techniques that match their needs and by providing them with targeted feedback.

Insurmountable as the challenges faced by many students may seem, The Writing Revolution can make a dramatic difference. And the method does more than improve writing skills. It also

Boost reading comprehension Improve organizational and study skills Enhance speaking abilities Develop analytical capabilities The Writing Revolution is as much a method of teaching content as it is a method of teaching writing. There’s no separate writing block and no separate writing curriculum. Instead, teachers of all subjects adapt the TWR strategies and activities to their current curriculum and weave them into their content instruction.

But perhaps what’s most revolutionary about the TWR method is that it takes the mystery out of learning to write well. It breaks the writing process down into manageable chunks and then has students practice the chunks they need, repeatedly, while also learning content.

The Bite-Sized Brain: How Short-Form Content Shapes Attention and Reading Habits

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In the past few months, I have seen my reading reduce, sometimes drastically. There have been times I have not read in days, so when the realisation hits, I make a conscious effort to carve time in my day to sit and read. This post is the result of the realisation of why I was not reading!

The rise of short-form content has revolutionised how we consume information and entertainment. Defined as brief, easily digestible pieces of content, whether text, video, or images, short-form content is designed for quick consumption, often lasting under a few minutes or containing fewer than 1,000 words. Examples include TikToks, Instagram Reels, Twitter posts, and short blog articles. While this format aligns with modern lifestyles and shorter attention spans, its growing influence raises questions about its impact on cognitive functions and reading abilities.

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Short-form content thrives in an era where attention spans are shrinking. According to psychologist Dr. Gloria Mark, the average time spent focusing on a single task has dropped from 2.5 minutes in 2004 to just 75 seconds today. This decline is attributed to the constant barrage of digital stimuli that encourage multitasking and rapid information consumption.

Key psychological factors driving the popularity of short-form content include:

  • Instant Gratification: Short-form videos or posts provide immediate rewards through entertainment or information, triggering dopamine release in the brain.
  • Ease of Consumption: The brevity of short-form content makes it accessible during brief moments of downtime, such as waiting in line or commuting.
  • Engagement Through Novelty: Platforms like TikTok use algorithms to deliver personalised content that keeps users engaged by constantly offering fresh and relevant material.
  • Visual Appeal: The combination of dynamic visuals and sound enhances engagement and retention compared to text-heavy formats.

These factors make short-form content highly addictive but also raise concerns about its long-term effects on cognitive abilities.

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Impact on Cognitive Abilities

Attention Span: Numerous studies indicate that excessive consumption of short-form content negatively affects attention span. For example, a study by Asif and Kazi (2024) found weak negative correlations between time spent watching short videos and performance on tasks measuring selective attention. Another study using EEG data revealed diminished executive control in individuals prone to mobile phone short video addiction. This suggests that frequent exposure to short-form videos may impair the prefrontal cortex functions responsible for sustained attention. The rapid shifts in focus required to consume fragmented content train the brain to prioritise novelty over depth, making it harder to concentrate on longer tasks.

Memory: Short-form content’s fast-paced nature can also impact memory. Research by Chiossi et al. (2023) showed that the overconsumption of digital media reduces prospective memory (the ability to remember future tasks) due to frequent context-switching. While short videos can encapsulate complex concepts effectively, their fleeting nature often leads to shallow processing, which hinders long-term retention. These findings suggest that while short-form content is engaging, it may come at the cost of deeper cognitive processing.

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Effects on Reading Ability

  • Decline in Deep Reading Skills: The shift from traditional long-form reading to consuming bite-sized information has altered how we process written material.
  • Surface-Level Reading: Short-form texts encourage skimming rather than deep reading. Readers often focus on keywords or headlines without engaging with the full context.
  • Reduced Patience for Complexity: Exposure to concise formats may diminish readers’ ability to tackle lengthy or complex texts, as they become accustomed to instant answers.

Despite these concerns, short-form content can enhance certain aspects of reading ability:

  • Improved Accessibility: Short blog posts or infographics make information more accessible to readers with limited time or lower literacy levels.
  • Enhanced Engagement: Dynamic formats like animated videos can boost interest in reading by appealingly presenting material. For instance, studies have shown that using short videos in educational settings improves students’ comprehension of narrative texts.

Thus, while short-form content poses challenges for deep reading skills, it also offers opportunities for creative learning approaches.

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The Role of Dopamine in Short-Form Content Consumption
The addictive nature of short-form content can be explained by its impact on the brain’s reward system. Each new piece of content delivers a burst of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation. Over time, this creates a feedback loop where users crave more frequent rewards.

However, this constant stimulation comes at a cost:
Desensitisation: Prolonged exposure reduces sensitivity to dopamine, requiring increasingly novel stimuli to achieve the same level of satisfaction.
Impaired Self-Control: Studies have linked the excessive use of platforms like TikTok with diminished self-regulation abilities.

These neurological changes underscore the need for mindful consumption practices.

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Educational Implications
Short-form content has both positive and negative implications for education. Benefits include encouraging independent learning by presenting material in an engaging format and offering diverse resources that cater to different learning styles. Challenges include requiring careful curation to ensure quality and relevance and the possibility of a hindrance in students’ ability to focus on extended readings or complex problem-solving tasks. Educators must strike a balance between leveraging short-form media’s potential and mitigating its drawbacks.

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Strategies for Balanced Consumption
To harness the benefits of short-form content while minimising its negative effects:
Set Time Limits: Allocate specific periods for consuming digital media to avoid overexposure.
Diversify Media Diets: Combine short-form content with long-form articles or books to maintain deep reading skills.
Practice Mindful Engagement: Reflect on the purpose behind consuming each piece of content rather than mindlessly scrolling.
Encourage Critical Thinking: Analyse the quality and credibility of information presented in concise formats.

By adopting these strategies, individuals can enjoy the advantages of short-form content without compromising cognitive health or reading abilities.

Short-form content is a double-edged sword: its brevity and accessibility make it ideal for modern lifestyles but also pose risks to attention span, memory, and deep reading skills. As this format continues to dominate digital media landscapes, it is crucial to understand its impact on the brain and develop strategies for balanced consumption. While further research is needed to explore long-term effects fully, fostering awareness among users can help mitigate potential downsides. By blending short-form media with traditional forms of learning and communication, we can create a more balanced approach that leverages the strengths of both formats.

In My Hands Today…

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AI Doctor: The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare – A Guide for Users, Buyers, Builders, and Investors – Ronald M. Razmi

AI The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare provides a timely and authoritative overview of the current impact and future potential of AI technology in healthcare. With a reader-friendly narrative style, this comprehensive guide traces the evolution of AI in healthcare, describes methodological breakthroughs, drivers and barriers of its adoption, discusses use cases across clinical medicine, administration and operations, and life sciences, and examines the business models for the entrepreneurs, investors, and customers.

Detailed yet accessible chapters help those in the business and practice of healthcare recognize the remarkable potential of AI in areas such as drug discovery and development, diagnostics, therapeutics, clinical workflows, personalized medicine, early disease prediction, population health management, and healthcare administration and operations. Throughout the text, author Ronald M. Razmi, MD offers valuable insights on harnessing AI to improve health of the world population, develop more efficient business models, accelerate long-term economic growth, and optimize healthcare budgets.

Addressing the potential impact of AI on the clinical practice of medicine, the business of healthcare, and opportunities for investors, AI The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in

Discusses what AI is currently doing in healthcare and its direction in the next decade Examines the development and challenges for medical algorithms Identifies the applications of AI in diagnostics, therapeutics, population health, clinical workflows, administration and operations, discovery and development of new clinical paradigms and more Presents timely and relevant information on rapidly expanding generative AI technologies, such as Chat GPT Describes the analysis that needs to be made by entrepreneurs and investors as they evaluate building or investing in health AI solutions Features a wealth of relatable real-world examples that bring technical concepts to life Explains the role of AI in the development of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics during the COVID-19 pandemic
AI The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. A Guide for Users, Buyers, Builders, and Investors is a must-read for healthcare professionals, researchers, investors, entrepreneurs, medical and nursing students, and those building or designing systems for the commercial marketplace. The book’s non-technical and reader-friendly narrative style also makes it an ideal read for everyone interested in learning about how AI will improve health and healthcare in the coming decades.

International Day of Education

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Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world — Nelson Mandela

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Education is not just a privilege; it’s a fundamental human right and a foundation for peace and development. Every year, the world comes together on January 24 to celebrate the International Day of Education. This day is a reminder of the power of education to transform lives, strengthen communities, and promote equity across generations. In 2025, the focus of the International Day of Education is set on a critical issue of our time: “Fostering Digital Literacy for All.” As digital technology increasingly shapes every facet of our lives, the emphasis on digital literacy reflects the need to equip individuals worldwide with the skills they need to thrive in a connected world.

The International Day of Education was established in 2018 by the United Nations General Assembly in recognition of education’s role in promoting global peace and sustainable development. Education is enshrined in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which calls for free and compulsory elementary education for all. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) specifically seeks to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030.

The UN dedicated January 24 as a day to emphasise education’s impact on economic growth, poverty alleviation, gender equality, and social mobility. It calls on governments, civil society, educators, and citizens worldwide to recognize and act on the critical role of education in solving some of the world’s greatest challenges. By shining a spotlight on education, the UN aims to drive attention and resources toward ensuring that everyone has access to quality education, regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic status.

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Each year, the International Day of Education adopts a new theme that highlights a pressing global education issue. These themes reflect emerging challenges and underscore education’s vital role in addressing them. For instance, in 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the theme was Recover and Revitalize Education for the COVID-19 Generation, which focused on restoring learning opportunities disrupted by the pandemic. In 2022, the theme Changing Course, Transforming Education highlighted the need for innovation in education to keep pace with a rapidly changing world. These themes provide a framework for international organisations, policymakers, educators, and advocates to focus their efforts, raise awareness, and implement changes in educational policies and practices that align with global needs. The day serves as a global rallying call to prioritise education at all levels, address inequalities, and close the gaps in access, quality, and inclusivity in education systems worldwide. By raising awareness, the day encourages nations to make policy commitments, increase funding for education, and work towards equitable, high-quality education for all.

Education is central to the achievement of many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, SDG 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education, which supports several other goals such as reducing poverty, achieving gender equality, and promoting decent work. Through initiatives linked to the International Day of Education, communities worldwide are empowered to take concrete steps toward these objectives. The celebration has inspired countries and organisations worldwide to take action. For instance, in some regions, governments have used the day to announce new educational initiatives, while NGOs have leveraged the platform to secure funding for education projects. These examples demonstrate the day’s potential as a catalyst for real change, mobilizing support for increased educational access and improvements across the globe.

In today’s digital era, literacy is no longer limited to reading, writing, and arithmetic. Digital literacy has become essential for participating fully in society, accessing economic opportunities, and engaging in lifelong learning. In 2025, the theme “Fostering Digital Literacy for All” addresses the pressing need to bridge the digital divide and equip people worldwide with the digital skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Digital literacy includes skills that allow individuals to use digital devices, communicate online, and critically evaluate digital content. It’s essential for success in the modern workforce, where most jobs require some level of digital proficiency. Moreover, digital literacy empowers individuals to access valuable information, navigate online services, and engage with society safely and responsibly. This is especially important in a post-pandemic world where education, work, and social interactions increasingly rely on digital platforms. The focus on digital literacy aligns with SDG 4’s goal of promoting equitable education, as it seeks to ensure that everyone, regardless of location or economic status, can gain the skills they need to engage in and benefit from the digital economy.

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UNESCO, along with organizations such as UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has been at the forefront of promoting digital literacy. Through initiatives like the Global Education Coalition, UNESCO partners with governments, private sector companies, and non-profits to provide digital learning resources, improve connectivity, and ensure that students and teachers in underserved regions have access to the tools they need for digital learning.

Some innovative initiatives have made significant strides in advancing digital literacy. For instance, in certain rural areas, mobile tech schools provide digital devices and internet access to students who lack these resources at home. In parts of Africa, mobile learning platforms bring educational content to students via cell phones, allowing for flexible learning in areas with limited internet connectivity. Government programs in countries like India have launched digital literacy campaigns that train adults and young people alike in essential digital skills. These programs highlight the transformative potential of digital literacy and serve as models that can be adapted and implemented worldwide.

While the benefits of digital literacy are clear, achieving universal digital literacy remains challenging due to barriers related to infrastructure, teacher training, and economic disparities. In many developing countries, access to digital devices and reliable internet remains limited. For digital literacy to become a reality, infrastructure investments are crucial. Expanding internet access to remote areas, providing affordable devices, and creating digital hubs in underserved communities are essential steps toward bridging the digital divide. Teachers play a vital role in imparting digital skills. However, many educators lack the necessary training to incorporate digital literacy into their lessons effectively. Ensuring that teachers are equipped with both digital skills and teaching strategies for digital literacy is essential for preparing students for a digital future.

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Socioeconomic factors also play a major role in access to digital resources. Families with limited financial means may struggle to afford internet access or digital devices for their children. Addressing these disparities requires policy interventions and funding that prioritize affordable access to technology for all. Digital literacy cannot be achieved by governments alone. Collaboration with the private sector, community organizations, and local governments is essential. Many tech companies, for example, partner with schools to donate devices, offer training programs, and fund digital literacy initiatives. Community organizations also play a significant role by providing free or low-cost digital training programs, creating community tech hubs, and offering mentorship to individuals in need. For instance, in countries with limited educational resources, corporations like Google and Microsoft have partnered with local schools to provide teacher training in digital tools. Community-based initiatives, such as public internet hubs and volunteer-led tech literacy workshops, further contribute to building digital skills in underserved areas. Such collaborations demonstrate how partnerships can help make digital literacy accessible to all.

Anyone can support the cause of digital literacy. Individuals can volunteer with local literacy programs, mentor students in digital skills, or donate digital devices to schools and community centers. Raising awareness through social media or community outreach can also help amplify the need for digital literacy. Schools, non-profits, and companies can contribute by launching digital literacy programs, donating resources, or partnering with government agencies to expand access to digital education. Advocacy for policies that support digital literacy as a core educational component can also create lasting change.

The 2025 International Day of Education theme emphasises that digital skills are not a luxury but a necessity. For individuals to thrive in today’s world, they need to understand and utilise digital tools responsibly and effectively. Ensuring that everyone has access to digital literacy is essential for promoting equality, economic opportunity, and social inclusion. By supporting initiatives that promote digital literacy, each of us can contribute to a future where everyone has the skills they need to succeed in a digital world.