How Does Technology Affect The Way Our Kids Learn?

Computer games and mobile devices are with the children everywhere and all the time. This session is about how video games relate to learning. With a focus on brain health, the speaker will first discuss what the executive functions of the brain are, and then will describe how that is related to learning. She will try to answer the question in most parents' minds: are video games good and can they be used to improve learning in children. 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Amanda holds a Masters of Education in Developmental Psychology and Education and a collaborative certificate with the Institute of Knowledge, Media and Design. For the last 7 years, she has been exposed in the fields of academic research, with a special interest in technology, her focus looks into the development of motivators in learning with the aid of technology. In this instance, how we can use video games such as Minecraft to shape our cognitive skills which in affects the way we learn. Projects that she has been a part of include investigating how character design may influence engagement of a learner, and evaluating games based on how they train certain executive functions. One of these projects she has been a part of is consulting on a cognitive-based music program to measure how children's intelligence improve after just one year of the program. This research is still in process and she's working collaboratively with Dr. Sean Hutchins (Director of Research). Dissecting and understanding the technological advancements in games and education is where her passion derives from. The question that is focused on is how we can utilize technology to better our learning.

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