My 10-year-olds are busy exploring electricity at the moment. We covered all the basics, reinforced vocabulary with the help of the QUIZZIZ app, and, during yet another online learning stint, built virtual circuits using this very useful website.
I had a bit of a delay in receiving the necessary resources for allowing the students to explore circuits in the physical classroom, so I decided to take a bit of time to introduce an interesting use of electricity: To enhance cognitive performance in humans.
I found a news article about this use of electric currents and prepared a ‘Think Pair Share’ worksheet to encourage the active engagement of all the students.
I introduced the concept of TDC’s by showing them this picture. And we discussed some of the words and concepts that they would encounter in the article, such as TDC’s, neuroscientist, cognitive, and cranium.
I gave them the article and we read through it once. I explained what was meant in a few instances, but was careful not to share any of my ideas and thoughts. They then had to write a summary of the article in the first column. I gave them 3 minutes to do this. I like to set a short time limit for these activities because it keeps their minds active and engaged. They could share their summary and I noted the key points on the board. We then read through it again and they received 2 minutes to write what they thought about the use of such enhancers.
The interesting part came when they had to listen to and write about what their partners thought about the topic. They found it difficult at first to listen with the intent to repeat someone else’s thoughts, but once they got the knack, they quite enjoyed this.
The activity concluded with them getting a chance to then discuss together and merge their ideas into one. They wrote this in the second column and each pair had an opportunity to share their collective opinion with the class.
I gave them the article and we read through it once. I explained what was meant in a few instances, but was careful not to share any of my ideas and thoughts. They then had to write a summary of the article in the first column. I gave them 3 minutes to do this. I like to set a short time limit for these activities because it keeps their minds active and engaged. They could share their summary and I noted the key points on the board. We then read through it again and they received 2 minutes to write what they thought about the use of such enhancers.
The interesting part came when they had to listen to and write about what their partners thought about the topic. They found it difficult at first to listen with the intent to repeat someone else’s thoughts, but once they got the knack, they quite enjoyed this.
The activity concluded with them getting a chance to then discuss together and merge their ideas into one. They wrote this in the second column and each pair had an opportunity to share their collective opinion with the class.
They were still discussing the pros and cons of cognitive enhancement with electric current as they left the classroom.
Mom&Teacher Thoughts 