Mind, Brain and Education: Research Methods and Critical Topics

Semester: 

Fall

Offered: 

2020

The seminar’s overall goal is to help students think critically about research methodology and be better-informed consumers of scientific findings as they bear on issues of practice and policy in the context of MBE. Five methodological domains will be addressed in the course: Clinical/educational, Experimental, Neuroimaging, Qualitative, and Computational.

The course will consist of three parts: 1) Monthly lectures by prominent researchers who utilize these methods in their research;  2) Monthly deeper-dive lectures and class-discussions to address the challenges and promises of the method in question, and to engage in a critical discussion about the method’s translational potential for teaching and learning in educational settings. Students will read two articles and prepare discussion questions/commentary in advance of the monthly meetings. 3) Students will work in ‘think pods” to solve challenges related to each module. This work will culminate in a 5-minute lightning presentation by the group. Enrollment is limited to, and required for, Ed.M. students in the Mind, Brain, and Education program.