Here are a couple interesting articles I have run across lately. “Multitasking Isn’t Making You More Efficient, It’s Frying Your Attention Span” by Daniel Goleman is excerpted from his new book called Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body. At the risk of sounding preachy, I am considering sharing this with my students. It’s worth remembering myself as well!

While I’m nagging my students, here’s another interesting article suggesting that even having our cell phones off and flipped over nearby still makes us dumber (or “reduces our available cognitive capacity”): “Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One’s Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity” 

Finally, one about teaching in particular: “Students Who Don’t Participate in Class Discussions: They Are Not All Introverts.” This article by Todd Zakrajsek takes on the idea that the only reason students don’t talk is because they are introverted. He poses many possible explanations for student silence and suggests some strategies for encouraging all manner of quiet students to become more involved.

For more good reading about teaching and learning, check out the CIE Libguide.