Jan 6 2015

Quick Write: Rate yourself as a multi-tasker on a 1 to 10 scale and explain why you give yourself that rating. (10 is the best score and 1 is the lowest.) Share your answer with a partner and/or the class and explain why you gave yourself this score.


When it comes to multitasking I would rate myself an 8.5 because I am very good it but I am not a pro. I'd rather put all my attention to what I am doing than doing two + things at once, trying to give all my effort in each one. 

1. Describe the experiment that was designed to show whether distractions make us “dumber.”

136 subjects were asked to read a short passage and answer questions about it. There were three groups of subjects; one merely completed the test. The other two were told they “might be contacted for further instructions” at any moment via instant message.
2. What were the results of the experiment?
During Part 1 of the experiment the distraction of an interruption, combined with the brain drain of preparing for that interruption, made our test takers 20 percent dumber. That’s enough to turn a B-minus student (80 percent) into a failure (62 percent). But in Part 2 of the experiment, the results were not as bleak. This time, part of the group was told they would be interrupted again, but they were actually left alone to focus on the questions. Again, the Interrupted group underperformed the control group, but this time they closed the gap significantly, to a respectable 14 percent. Dr. Peer said this suggested that people who experience an interruption, and expect another, can learn to improve how they deal with it. But among the On High Alert group, there was a twist. Those who were warned of an interruption that never came improved by a whopping 43 percent, and even outperformed the control test takers who were left alone. This unexpected, counterintuitive finding requires further research, but Dr. Peer thinks there’s a simple explanation: participants learned from their experience, and their brains adapted.

3. What is the possible explanation for the “On High Alert” group performing even better than the control group who was left alone?

Yes. Once their brains adapted to the possibility of an interruption they were able to preform better than the control group that was left alone. 

4. Answer the Aim.
Aim: How does multi-tasking relate to brain drain and neuroplasticity? 

When you're multi-tasking your brain is not putting 100% of its effort into the task in front of it. Just like when you're working on completing a task but you're also trying to complete another task, it causes your brain to kind of slow down between each task making it work less efficiently and causes it to drain its own energy. This relates to neuroplasticity because once your brain adapts to a situation, it learns how to overcome it and be able to work more efficiently.

5. Check out this short article or research an article of your own. State a significant fact you learned from the supplemental reading on your blog

Part of the danger of current distractions is that they require you to use the same parts of your brain that you need when you learn and study. Your brain just can’t absorb a complex concept in class if you’re distracted by Facebook at the same time. In fact, those who accessed Facebook during the study had lower GPAs than those who avoided it.

6. Now how do you rate yourself as a multi-tasker and why?   

As a multi-tasker I would rate myself as an 8.5, I can multi-task pretty well but I just don't like to. I'd rather put all my attention to whats in front of me, and then go to the next task so I can put all my attention into that.

1/5/15

Quick Write: In your opinion, is self-control related to success? Why or why not?


self control is related to success because when you're on the path to success you're going to come across many problems that are going to mentally and physically test you. Do you have enough self control to not do certain things? do you have enough self control to not fall into temptation? You need to know yourself in order to better yourself. 


Reflection: How did you do on "The Mallomar Test"? How do you think your success as a student may or may not be related to your ability to delay gratification, to distract and distant yourself from emotional distress? What are some strategies you have or plan to try to focus more on your goals and less on immediate gratification? Put your thoughts into at least one paragraph.

I did very well on "The Mallomar Test", I did not look at the chocolate, I kind of made my self think it was disgusting. I believe my success as a student has been partially related to my ability to have self-control because I've been in many situations where I was either being mentally/physically tested. The number one thing I do is not think. I stop thinking for a moment, I observe the situation, and then I evaluate whether or not my next move is a smart move. I do this for everything, from deciding what I want to eat for breakfast - to what actions I'm going to take to move closer to my goals. 

My PSA.

12/4/14

My question is "Should educators be required to learn the biology and studies about children and teen brains"

My question is "Should teenage brains be evaluated before given a license to determine whether or not their brain is mature enough to deal with stressful driving situations."

12/3/14

Quick Write:

I think Epsteins' counter claim would be that the environment also plays a part in a teenagers behavior because if a teenager had to mature quickly vs. a teenager that spent all their years being childish it can affect their decision making

11/25/14

How does Ms. Blakemore define adolescence?

 the start of the hormonal and puberty stage 

How long does it last?

when the adolescent can maintain a stable role in society. 

What is the significance of the prefrontal cortex?

decision making, inhibiting inappropriate behavior, understanding people and being self-aware. 

Which section is this on the diagram we viewed yesterday? (See post for 11/17/14)

Executive Processors

What is synaptic pruning and what is the significance of the process?

 Keep the ones you need and lose the ones you don't need. The ones that you do keep come stronger because you keep working with it. 

What is the social brain?

the network of brain region we use to understand other people and interact other people 

Explain the design and results of the experiment in which adolescents were compared to adults in seeing things from another person's perspective.

Soccer game, When michael misses his goal everyone has the same reaction and we are being able to read other peoples expression. 

Describe the difference between the limbic system and the prefrontal cortex in teenagers and adults.

Adults - An adults limbic system and prefrontal cortex are more developed and used evenly. 

Adolences  - medial prefrontal cortex is less used, risk takers, to become independent, lymbic system are hyper senstive during this stage while the prefronal cortex is still developing. 

Do you see your own adolescence as a problem or an opportunity?Explain.

It was an opportunity to learn right from wrong and how to become a better person. 

Make one suggestion you have for educators based on this Ted Talk. 

To learn this information so they can understand their students better. 

11/12/14

Quick Write: What criteria do you believe should be used to evaluate the quality of your PSA?


the quality of your work , the level of information used and the organization of your PSA. 


Have you ever been persuaded by a PSA?

yes because if the review is good, i might consider buying the item