craftED
is the blog for The Germantown Academy Professional Development Program.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Our Memories at Work



Wait a second.  I can’t remember what I wanted to post this weekend.  I know it was important…oh, right.  Memory.

As teachers we spend an awful lot of time deciding what is important for our students to know and how best to teach that information.  Whether content or skills, we hope to teach that which will them well as they move through their lives.  We would do well to consider constructing lessons with retention in mind, too.  How can we help our students not only learn the material presented in class but also remember it for more than a day or two?

Where did it all go? offers four strategies that will help.  The fourth, Mental Glue, is of particular interest. 

Additionally, the book Memory: at work in the classroom by Bailey and Pransky addresses the issue of improving student memory. “In Memory at Work in the Classroom, Francis Bailey and Ken Pransky expertly guide you through the aspects of human memory most relevant to classroom teachers. 

Real classroom examples help to deepen your understanding of how memory systems play a central role in the learning process, as well as how culture plays a sometimes surprising role in memory formation and use.” 

I have a copy so let me know if you want to borrow it.

Sunday, January 17, 2016

ADVIS and TechGirlz on Gender in STEM Feilds



On Monday, January 11, 2016 a group of GA faculty and administrators, attended a conference on Gender and Sexuality Diversity with Jennifer Bryan Ph.D., sponsored by the Multicultural Resource Center and ADVIS. Look for more information about gender and sexuality diversity as those who attended find ways to continue the conversation.  Among the numerous topics addressed during the presentation was the issue of gender imbalance in mathematics, science, and technology.

On Friday January 29 from 3-5 pm in the Beard Center for Innovation, Sarah Johnson founder of Techgirlz, will be sharing the curriculum they developed to build the next generation of female technology leaders and close the gender gap in technology occupations. While their curriculum aims to provide middle-school girls with hands-on experiences with different kinds of technology and enable them to interact with women who have carved out successful careers in technology fields, it can be purposed for all ages.  Want to know more about the gender gap in the tech sector click here.