Brain Research: More Than Interesting Science.

As we solicited the views of our readers during the past 18 months about what they wanted from their professional association's flagship publication, one answer rang up with constancy: greater emphasis on practical implications of research.

This month's issue takes you to the frontier of cutting-edge educational research. No doubt, you have seen some of the coverage in the major newsweeklies about the development of the human brain, how the brain undergoes extraordinary changes during the first years of life and what environmental influences have the greatest impact on shaping very young minds.

It's more than interesting science. The newest understandings of cognitive scientists have major implications for educational leaders and school policymakers.

In the pages that follow, we have convened some of the best thinkers and writers on the subject of what the latest research on the human brain suggests for student learning. Some of these contributors have written books on the subject for other organizations; others are working directly with educators to put their interpretations and theories to use in schools. One author, David Sousa, is a former district superintendent who now works as a consultant on applying brain research.

As with any new field of discovery, you will find some disagreement among those on the frontier. Note, for instance, how lead author Robert Sylwester sees biology as the major science that will inform educators' understanding, while Geoffrey and Renate Caine, in their article on "How to Think About the Brain," see a variety of fields, including sports psychology and stress theory, providing guidance for educators.

It's a complex, yet fascinating subject. We hope this will whet your appetite for learning more. A listing of recommended books appears on page 16.

Jay P. Goldman

Voice: 703-875-0745

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