NIC symposium runs March 14-18

This year's North Idaho College Cardinal Connections symposium "Brains Rewired" scheduled March 14-18 will focus on brain research and how the mind can impact success at home, work and in the classroom.

"One of the equalizing factors of being human is this phenomenon of having a brain," said NIC Cardinal Connections Chair Rachel Dolezal. "Understanding what is going on inside our heads helps us strategize for success."

The free symposium will include several topics based on the book "Brain Rules" by Dr. John Medina. Each day will include several presentations focused on one of 12 key principles outlined in the book that point to brain research as a way of improving everyday life: exercise, survival, wiring, attention, short-term memory, long-term memory, sleep, stress, sensory integration, vision, gender and exploration.

On Monday, March 14, the symposium will focus on the theme of exercise, survival and wiring. Gonzaga University dance instructor Terry Grizzell will outline the principle of exercise in his presentation on improving brain function in Parkinson's Disease patients through dance at 9 a.m. in the Edminster Student Union Building (SUB) Lake Coeur d'Alene Room. The principle of survival will be covered by NIC Outdoor Pursuits' Jon Totten and Jessica Johanson at 10 a.m. They will speak about the evolution of the human brain and strategies for survival in the SUB Lake Coeur d'Alene Room. Lastly, NIC Biology Instructor Cheri Zao will talk about how human wiring affects how people think, feel and react to life situations at 1 p.m. in the Meyer Health and Sciences Building Room 102.

Presentations on Tuesday, March 15 will cover three more principles of "Brain Rules," attention, short-term memory and long-term memory. NIC Communication Instructor Sherry Simkins along with members of the Coeur d'Alene Police Department will talk about multitasking, covering issues such as texting and driving, at 10:30 a.m. in Molstead Library Room 210. NIC Allied Health Coordinator/Instructor Sue Hill Crowley will talk about "Repeat to Remember: Where Memories Go" at 1 p.m. in the Meyer Health and Sciences Building Room 102. Closing the day will be NIC Psychology Instructor and author of "Study Sense" Kristina Klassen, along with former Montessori principal and current owner of ClubZ Tutoring in Kalispell, Mont., David Hibbs. They will explore rules for remembering information long term at 2:30 p.m. in the Meyer Health and Sciences Building Room 102.

The first presentation on Wednesday, March 16 will be focused on the principle of sleep and will include a presentation by Dr. Michael E. Coats of Kootenai Medical Center and NIC instructor Karl Andreasson, who will present on improving performance by increasing quality of sleep at 9 a.m. in Boswell Hall Room 102. Wednesday will also feature the keynote address by Dr. Pat Wolfe, international education adviser and author of the book "Mind Matters" at 10 a.m. in Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center. Her lecture will focus on translating brain research into classroom practice. A book signing of Wolfe's "Mind Matters" will follow the presentation along with a question and answer session at 11:15 a.m. in Molstead Library Todd Hall. Stress management and a holistic approach to dealing with stressful situations will be the focus of the 1 p.m. session in Hedlund Building Room 131 with NIC instructors Paul Spurgeon and Gini Hickman.

On Thursday, March 16, events will kick off with "Sensory Integration: Stimulate the Senses to Learn" led by Jolie Wenglikowski and Kathleen Miller-Green of the NIC Children's Center at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 17 in Molstead Library Room 210. Dolezal will cover the topic of vision and selective perception in relation to how we learn at 1 p.m. in the Meyer Health and Sciences Building Room 102. At 2:30 p.m., NIC anthropology instructor Marian Ackerman will discuss how "Male and Female Brains are Different" in Meyer Health and Sciences Building Room 102.

Events will wrap up Friday, March 19 with international workshop presenter and author Deollo Johnson, emphasizing the principle of exploration as the root of intelligence. Johnson will hold a book signing for his book "One Heart At A Time" following the presentation.

All events are free and open to the public. Community members are encouraged to attend, especially educators who can use information provided in the symposium to tailor their curriculum based on brain research.

"At a time when education dollars are being stretched, we are excited to offer this symposium free of charge, as an excellent professional development opportunity for educators in our region," Dolezal said.

Cardinal Connections is cosponsored by North Idaho College and the Associated Students of North Idaho College.

Attendance at the presentations qualifies participants for a sweepstakes that will award $1,500 in prizes. For each presentation attended, NIC students will receive a code to enter online for the grand prize, which includes an IPad 2 valued at $1,000. All other participants will receive an entry for each presentation attended for an E-Reader valued at $500.

For more information, visit www.nic.edu/cardinalconnections or call (208) 769-3276.