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Activate. Grades K-2. Activate. Comes to us from Yale University Based on the work of Dr. Wexler Underwritten by a grant from NIH Based on neuroscience research One of five schools in FCPS piloting program Is used across the US and in China.
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Activate Grades K-2
Activate • Comes to us from Yale University • Based on the work of Dr. Wexler • Underwritten by a grant from NIH • Based on neuroscience research • One of five schools in FCPS piloting program • Is used across the US and in China • Focused on the development of 8 cognitive skills (executive functioning): • Self regulation • Response to inhibition • Cognitive flexibility • Multiple simultaneous attention • Pattern recognition • Processing speed • Working memory • Sustained attention
Benefits • The 8 cognitive skills can all be developed • Development of any skill requires repetition and increasing rigor and complexity • The skills identified are the ones students need to be successful at learning and in school/life • The computer exercises are married with physical exercises that reinforce the skills and provide cross training • Attention skills are prefrontal cortex skills
Interesting • 100 Billion neurons • Each connected to thousands • Want to develop as many connections as possible • Neural pathways can be created and strengthened • Brain is plastic- especially so in young kids • Activate provides targeted stimulation to prefrontal cortex • Physical exercises engage the same neurocognitive systems as computer exercises but in the context of whole body movement and social interaction • Coaching can be provided to help students improve as they work through the levels • NIH designed assessments- preliminary at session 6, next at 100 mins.,Midterm at 500 mins., Comprehensive at 1000 mins.
Teacher Training • Face to Face training with Yale representative • Ongoing webinars through teacher portal • Collaboration with other pilot schools • FCPS support personnel and special projects administrator
Specifics • Three to four times per week for 20 minutes for web based exercises-minimum of 1000 minutes • We have ordered computers, been given donations, upgraded systems and have laptop carts and a lab set up • Schedule has been developed with initiation starting next week • PE activities have been embedded in skill set by the FCPS PE curriculum specialists • It will be scheduled as a whole class but each child will proceed independently • Cognitive demands and complexity increases as the games progress. • Three main game types but hundreds of levels and speeds