Dr. Sashank Varma quoted in PBS’ NOVA NEXT on neuroeducation programs

Sashank Varma head shot
Dr. Sashank Varma

Dr. Sashank Varma, cognitive neuroscientist and associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology’s psychological foundations of education program, was recently interviewed by the PBS for its online publication NOVA NEXT.

According to the article, “Lack of Evidence Plagues Neuroeducation Programs,” neuroeducation programs are used in classrooms across the country to help ready children’s brains for learning. However, experts like Dr. Varma say there’s little evidence to prove that commercial programs work.

“Wrap an existing curriculum in neuroscience language and it gains instant credibility, despite a constant stream of warnings from scientists,” Varma told NOVA NEXT. “We’ve only just scratched the surface. We’re only just at the beginning of understanding the potentials and limits of how neuroscience informs education.”

Read the full article.