ISTE 2011 Keynote: "Brain Rules"

The ISTE 2011 conference formally kicked off this evening with the opening keynote, featuring speaker Dr. John Medina. Dr. Medina is a developmental molecular biologist and the author of the New York Times bestseller "Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home and School", http://www.brainrules.net/

Dr. Medina's talk was intriguing, engaging, and thought provoking. Here are a few of the key points he underscored during his 40 minute talk:

• Every brain is wired differently from every other brain and learns in ways unique to that wiring
• All of human learning occurs in the allyways and boulevards of the human brain, not the interstates and highways
• The human brain is not interested in learning, it's interested in surviving
• Exercise boosts brain power. Aerobic exercise can increase the executive functioning of the brain by 20% to 102%
• The emotional stability of the home is the strongest predictor of academic success

If you're interested in hearing more about what Dr. Medina has to say about how the brain can affect learning, check out his book. The Kindle version is only $2.99!