Dr. Berger 
01/31/2017 | Thailand | Al Jazeera
Inspiring Science: Building Thailand’s Future
Al Jazeera News | Twitter
Thailand has seen remarkable social and economic progress over the last four decades.
Thirty years ago, 67 percent of the population lived below the poverty line; by 2014, that number had dropped to 11 percent.
The country spends around 20 percent of its national budget on education, making it one of the highest spenders in the world. However, its international ranking in science and maths education is in the bottom quarter.
Science, technology, engineering and maths have now become a government priority.
Kanchulee Punyain, a Ministry of Education officer, is supporting the government’s push to improve scientific literacy and international performance.
To read more visit Al Jazeera
Thailand: Proposal to upgrade higher education commission to full ministry gains ground
Study International News | Twitter
Amid calls to improve the standard of higher education in Thailand, the country’s Education Ministry has recommended that its Office of Higher Education Commission (OHEC) be turned into a full-fledged ministry.
Udom Kachintorn, former president of the Council of University Presidents, was appointed to head a special 15-member committee to study and oversee the process of creating such a ministry, which will be known as the Ministry of University Affairs.
“Our higher education system is facing a crisis,” he said last week.
To read more visit SI News
Boost Memory and Learning with Music
Cheri Lucas | PBS Parents | Twitter
When we hear a familiar song, we are often able to recall a moment from our past that is connected to that tune. Favorite songs tickle our memory in various ways; your child may even complain of “getting a song stuck in her head,” which shows that music is easily ingrained in our memory.
Music has been found to stimulate parts of the brain, and studies have demonstrated that music enhances the memory of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, including a study conducted at UC Irvine, which showed that scores on memory tests of Alzheimer’s patients improved when they listened to classical music.
It’s possible, then, to use music to help your child retain information and enhance learning. Chris Brewer, founder of LifeSounds Educational Services and author of the new book Soundtracks for Learning, says sounds can help to hold our attention, evoke emotions, and stimulate visual images. “Students of all ages—that includes adults— generally find that music helps them focus more clearly on the task at hand and puts them in a better mood for learning,” says Brewer.
To read more visit PBS Parents
Scientists Discovered Something Amazing About Musicians’ Brains
Tom Barnes | Music.Mic | Twitter
Songs about memories make up a huge portion of our musical canon. Whether about a past love, a loved one who’s passed or an old sound, music is almost always in some way about memory.
New scientific research may have determined why this is: Musicians actually may have much more well-developed long-term memories than non-musicians.
To read more visit Music.Mic
01/30/2017 | Charlotte, NC | ABA Journal
Charlotte School of Law prof seeks donations to help students with food and rent
Stephanie Francis Ward | ABA Journal | Twitter
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Charlotte School of Law students with their living expenses after a recent U.S. Department of Education decision that they will not receive federal loan money for the spring semester.
Also, the law school is reportedly offering students interest-free $1,000 loans (PDF).
A Charlotte School of Law spokeswoman told the ABA Journal that the school is continuing its effort to try and get students federal financial aid.
“We are happy that Charlotte Law’s faculty, staff, and alumni are working to assist our students in this time of need,” she said.
As of Monday afternoon, the GoFundMe page had raised $5,675 toward a goal of $250,000.
To read more visit ABA Journal
- USC News – Children’s brains develop faster with music training
- NPR – From Mozart To Mr. Rogers: Literacy, Music And The Brain
- edCircuit – Is Technology Helping To Make Professional Music Composers In the Classroom?
EdCircuit Staff