Springer Mind, Brain and Technology: Learning in the Age of Emerging Technologies (Educational Communications and Technology: Issues and Innovations)

As technology becomes increasingly integrated into our society, cultural expectations and needs are changing. Social understanding, family roles, organizational skills, and daily activities are all adapting to the demands of ever-present technology, causing changes in human brain, emotions, and behaviors. An understanding of the impact of technology upon our lives is essential if we are to adequately educate children for the future and plan for meaningful learning environments for them. Mind, Brain and Technology provides an overview of these changes from a wide variety of perspectives. Designed as a textbook for students in the fields and interdisciplinary areas of psychology, neuroscience, technology, computer science, and education, the book offers insights for researchers, professionals, educators, and anyone interested in learning more about the integration of mind, brain and technology in their lives. The book skilfully guides readers to explore alternatives, generate new ideas, and develop constructive plans both for their own lives and for future educational needs. From the Back Cover As technology becomes increasingly integrated into our society, cultural expectations and needs are changing. Social understanding, family roles, organizational skills, and daily activities are all adapting to the demands of ever-present technology, causing changes in human brain, emotions, and behaviors. An understanding of the impact of technology upon our lives is essential if we are to adequately educate children for the future and plan for meaningful learning environments for them. Mind, Brain and Technology provides an overview of these changes from a wide variety of perspectives. Designed as a textbook for students in the fields and interdisciplinary areas of psychology, neuroscience, technology, computer science, and education, the book offers insights for researchers, professionals, educators, and anyone interested in learning more about the integration of mind, brain and technology in their lives. The book skilfully guides readers to explore alternatives, generate new ideas, and develop constructive plans both for their own lives and for future educational needs. About the Author Thomas D. Parsons, PhD, is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of North Texas. Prior to joining the faculty at UNT, he was an Assistant Professor and Research Scientist at the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies. His work integrates neuropsychology and simulation technologies for novel assessment, modeling, and training of neurocognitive and affective processes. He is a leading scientist in this area and he has directed 17 funded projects during his career and he has been an investigator on an additional 13 funded projects. In addition to his patents for the eHarmony.com Matching System, he has invented and validated virtual reality-based assessments of attention, spatial abilities, memory, and executive functions. He uses neural networks and machine learning to model mechanisms underlying reinforcement learning, decision making, working memory, and inhibitory control. In addition to his three books, he has over 100 publications in peer reviewed journals and book chapters. He is currently Co-PI (in partnership with Soar Technology) on a Department of Defense funded ($998,888) grant that aims to develop an artificially intelligent cognitive architecture for neurocognitive assessment. He has served as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Human Neuroscience and the editorial boards of Psychological Assessment; Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking; Assessment (Sage); and PsycCRITIQUES. His contributions to neuropsychology were recognized when he received the 2013 National Academy of Neuropsychology Early Career Achievement award. In 2014, he was awarded Fellow status in the National Academy of Neuropsycholog