Spotting Early Warning Signs of Psychosis

Schizophrenia, a debilitating disorder characterized by hallucinations, intrusive thoughts, and illogical behaviors, affects about 1% of the population. That might sound like a small number, but to psychologist Vijay Mittal, it isn’t small at all – and neither are its consequences. “In a room of 100 people, one is likely to have schizophrenia and several more are related to someone with the disorder,” Mittal points out. “We don’t talk about it very often, but it is so detrimental to

In speech therapy, what’s best for the bottom line might also be best for kids

Speech-language impairment affects millions of school-aged children in the U.S., not just limiting their ability to communicate, but posing a risk for their future achievement. Children with untreated speech-language issues go on to have more trouble with reading and math, as well as social and behavioral skills. Fortunately, access to treatment has become nearly universal, because the Individuals with Disabilities Act guarantees school-based services to any child whose educational performance

Do Video Games Improve Learning?

There’s no question that video games are popular – they rack up more than $100 billion in sales every year – but can they improve student learning? Electronic games are everywhere in children’s lives, not only on home computers and smartphones, but increasingly in schools. Gaming enthusiasts like well-known researchers Jane McGonigal and James Gee have called for educators to leverage the popularity of gaming to revolutionize schooling. Children could learn more and more efficiently

Want to Teach Critical Thinking? Forget Rote Learning

Gone are the days when school was only about “the three R’s”- reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic. Critical thinking is now a central educational goal, from the Common Core State Standards to employers’ demands for the future workforce. But students are apparently falling short of that goal.

According to a test viewed as the “Nation’s Report Card,” a third of America’s fourth graders fail to comprehend what they read or are unable to provide supporting evidence for their