Strategies for Aceing Life

Drawing on research into brain networks, social interactions and learning techniques, NTU’s researchers offer tips to help us unlock potential at every age. “Caregivers can scaffold their child’s learning by using social cues such as making eye contact, calling the child’s name and using ‘infant-directed speech’ with the child,” says Director of the Early Mental Potential and Wellbeing Research Centre Prof Victoria Leong, who examines the neural processes between parents and infants that support learning through observation and interaction. A growing child’s learning is further shaped in school. When given space to be curious and draw their own conclusions with the support of adults, children learn to build their own understanding of the world around them. “Sometimes, with good intentions, we as adults intervene too much and we hinder children’s natural curiosity,” says Dr Teo Chew Lee, who is Deputy Centre Director at NIE’s Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice. Learning continues into adulthood and companies should create an environment conducive to learning so employees can keep up with rapidly changing developments. Assoc Prof Trevor Yu and Principal Research Fellow Dr Vijayan Munusamy from CRADLE suggest that since formal training can be costly, small- and medium-sized enterprises can implement alternative methods like on-the-job training and informal learning, creating spaces for employees to learn from one another. Engaging in physical activity and social interaction helps older adults to continue learning effectively. “So interventions that combine exercise with cognitive engagement have been shown to enhance executive function and processing speed, which are the core abilities that support ongoing learning,” says Prof Annabel Chen, Director of CRADLE.

Refer to the article here.