Learning and Life Skills

Wanting to hear - Can We Do More, Mom? then try Mind Benders

Picture this....a young boy doing his daily school work at his desk.  You're working with him on science. The 'deer in the headlights syndrome' is taking over. (In case you aren't familiar with this syndrome, the symptoms include but are not limited to:  slouched shoulders; head propped up with hand; eyes open but staring off into space, then rolling into the back of the eyelids; excessive, almost debilitating yawns; followed by loud snoring. (only slightly kidding here).   Bottom line - you are losing your student. 

You look at the clock, see that lunchtime is approaching, realize that the brain sitting before you needs to WAKE UP!, and you say something like, "Let's do some of these activities just before we break for lunch."  Miraculously, the half-dead, zombie-like student that slouched before you moments before is now wide-eyed, smiling, and awake.  His pencil is gripped firmly in his hand anticipating the unfolding of the book, and the sound of an enthusiastic, "Whoopee!" fills the air. (still only slightly kidding)

What, you ask, could elicit such a reaction? 

MIT OpenCourseWare offers free access to all MIT courses

MIT is offering access to all (more than 1800) of its courses.  A special section specifically targets high school aged learners  - Highlights for High School - including AP courses in Biology, Calculus, and Physics.

 Highlights for High School is an MIT initiative providing free, open source teaching and learning materials to high school teachers and students. The site includes: Video lecture clips, lecture notes, practice problems, exams, and other resources from MIT’s introductory Physics, Biology and Calculus courses; mini-courses for high school students developed by MIT students; and an introduction for students to the college-level MIT curriculum and course materials on OpenCourseWare.

This is a great resource for adult learners and older students who would like to explore their areas of interest before college.  Important, as well, is the opportunity for highly gifted and accelerated students to access learning at the college level.   While not resulting in college credits, the resources provide additional options for supplementing those students who need more than is offered through school or home school.