Category Archives: In the News

Waterloo Labs have designed a system to play Mario only using eye movements. Distinct from previous eye tracking systems such as the EyeWriter that use imaging to detect where you are looking, this program attaches electrodes to your eye muscles to control movement in the Nintendo Entertainment System.  Check out how they did it  

Do video games cause violence behavior in children? Are they ruining their minds? Despite scientific evidence that refutes these assumptions, why does the media still think video games are damaging for kids? That question was addressed by Scott Steinbergin, tech consultant and founder of GameExec magazine and Game Industry TV, in a great CNN piece a few weeks ago. In case you missed it, check it out:  Why Does the Media Still Think Video Games are Bad for Kids? In…

In today’s difficult job market, which candidate is most appealing, the one who received a perfect SAT score, or the one that can offer the most creative solutions to a complex problem, such as stopping the spread of oil along the Gulf Coast?   The July 10 Newsweek magazine cover story, “The Creativity Crisis” by Po Bronson and Ashley Merriman, featured new evidence that American creativity has been in significant decline over the past two decades. These findings come at a…

We suggest you explore iCivics, a beautiful new series of Flash games designed to raise civic knowledge and participation. The first game “Do You Have a Right?” is designed for middle-schoolers who get to run their own law firm specializing in constitutional law. This series was originally envisioned by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who felt there was an urgent need for students to learn about the government before they can actually participate. Justice O’Connor spoke passionately about this project in…

Ming Ming Chiu of the University of Buffalo observed informal conversations between parents and children in his recent study, Inequality, family, school, and mathematics achievement: Country and student differences (Social Forces journal). After examining familial patterns in more than 100,000 students, Chiu showed that communications around current affairs, such as the recent BP oil spill, can help boost math achievement. Through discussion, children develop “mental models of mathematical quantities and processes” which support formal instruction in the classroom, resulting in…

The Library of Congress, along with the Ad Council, are encouraging parents to read with their children. According to Florida State University, this activity makes children more willing to read and increases the frequency of their reading. They hope to promote a steady daily reading experience for young children, which is difficult for many harried parents, but quite crucial. The messaging is geared around summer vacation, when many children, particularly those from low-income families, experience what is referred to as…

Cooney Center recommends! You’ll want to check out Ellen Galinsky’s new book Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs, which explores the science of childhood brain development and early learning. Collaborating with top researchers in cognitive science, Galinsky identifies seven life skills, including critical thinking and communication, that foster learning and mastery.

Reprinted from Huffington Post, July 5, 2010. Written together with Esther Wojcicki, Creative Commons Board Chair America is celebrating. The Fourth of July is a time for parades, parties, BBQs, fireworks—we certainly have much to be thankful for here in America, the most innovative country on earth. But one area of American life that is consistently resistant to innovation is our education system. On our nation’s birthday–a cause for celebration of our founders’ audacity, independence, courage and innovation skills– we…

Thursday, April 29, 2010 Read up on the pass-back effect in this article by Mom Logic’s Ronda Kaysen. As more and more moms trade in their cell phones for smartphones, they are finding that the devices serve a second purpose: that of portable babysitter. CNN has reported that nearly half of the 100 top-selling educational apps in the iTunes App Store were created for preschool and elementary-school kids, according to the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, an organization that supports using…

Brand Channel‘s Sheila Shayon explores our recent discoveries on children’s iPhone apps from our recent publication: iLearn: A Content Analysis of the iTunes App Store’s Education Section. Read More