Week 9 Email: March 16

Hello students,

Welcome to Week 9! We hope you are all doing well and continuing to enjoy our learning journey together. 😊

As a reminder, Canvas is our interactive learning hub where you can watch recorded weekly lessons, participate in discussions, and take the weekly quiz. Even if you are unable to attend the live Zoom class, you can still stay connected with the course by logging in to Canvas.

If you missed a class, we encourage you to:

·        Watch the recorded lesson for the week

·        Complete the weekly quiz

·        Explore the discussion and share your thoughts with classmates

These activities are designed to help keep your mind active, engaged, and connected with the class community. Remember, there are no grades or pressure just opportunities to learn, reflect, and stay curious.

If Canvas still feels new, please don’t worry. We will continue showing you during our Zoom sessions how to log in and navigate the course step by step. After logging in a few times, it will start to feel much easier.

Here is a quick review of how to log in:

1.    Open your web browser and go to SDCCD.EDU (or search for San Diego Community College District).

2.    On the homepage, click the Canvas tab on the top menu bar.

3.    Log in using your student email as your ID and your Portal password (the same password you use for registration).

4.    If prompted, complete multi-factor authentication (like online banking) to keep your account secure. You can receive the verification code via text message or personal email.

5.    Once verified, you will be taken to your Canvas dashboard. 🎉 Congratulations — you’ve made it!

How to Access Your Courses

• On the left side under the SDCCD logo, you’ll see Dashboard or Courses.

• Click either one to view your Canvas courses.

• Feel free to click on all buttons and hyperlinks to get familiar with Canvas.

  • Explore the different tools, such as:

    • Quizzes – for self assessment and practice questions 

    • Discussions – to post and reply to classmates and instructors

Need help connecting to Canvas? Contact Student Support:

• Email: support@student.sdccd.edu

• Phone: 619-388-1140

Thank you for being part of this learning community. We look forward to seeing you in class and on Canvas this week!

Last Week: Religion & the Brain

Religion and spirituality are important parts of human culture and influence how people find meaning, make moral decisions, and connect with others. Neuroscience studies how spiritual experiences such as prayer, meditation, and rituals affect brain activity, without trying to prove or disprove religious beliefs. Research shows that religious experiences involve multiple brain networks related to attention, emotion, memory, self-reflection, and social understanding. Practices like prayer, meditation, and rituals can help regulate emotions, reduce stress, and strengthen focus and social bonding. Spiritual beliefs and rituals can also support mental health, resilience, and a sense of purpose, especially when practiced in supportive communities. Overall, spirituality and religion influence the brain by shaping how people interpret life, manage emotions, and experience connection and belonging.

This Week: Dyslexia & the Aging Brain

This week we will explore what dyslexia is and how it affects the brain. Dyslexia is a lifelong learning difference that affects how the brain processes written language, including reading, spelling, and word recognition. It is not related to intelligence, and researchers are now studying how dyslexia interacts with normal brain changes that occur with aging.

Below is the Zoom link for all classes:

• Monday, 9:30 - 11:30 AM (Erika Peralta, Instructor)

• Tuesday, 10-12 PM (Minoo Pakgohar, Instructor)

• Tuesday, 1:00 – 3:00 PM (Minoo Pakgohar, Instructor)

• Wednesday 9:30 - 11:30 AM (Minoo Pakgohar, Instructor)

• Wednesday 6:30 – 8:30 PM (Charisse Winston, Instructor)

• Thursday 10 - 12:00 PM (Charisse Winston, Instructor)

• Thursday 1:00 - 3:00 PM (Sharon Gregory, Instructor)

• Friday 9:30 - 11:30 AM (Erika Peralta, Instructor)

Remember: as a Brain Fitness Topics student, you are welcome to attend any of the Brain Fitness Topics classes listed above, even more than one per week.

Special topics (separate registration)

• Brain Fitness Lab: Cognitive Wellness Through Hands-On Exercises and Living Stories, Monday 10:00 – 12:00 PM (Yael Lorberfeld & Desiree Harguess)

• Diverse Approaches to Brain Health, (Mindy  Sloan, Instructor)

  • Monday 3:00 – 5: 00 PM

  • Tuesday 6:00 - 8:00 PM 

·       Brain HQ: Cognitive Training and Navigation, Thursday 6:00 – 8:00 PM (Sharon Gregory, Instructor)

Quick Links   

• Course website:  bfclass.com

• BrainHQ site:  https://v4.brainhq.com/

• Student site with schedule and more:  sdcestudent55.com

• Site to enroll in classes:  myportal.sdccd.edu

• Official SDCCE site:  sdcce.edu

Enjoy a brain-healthy week!  We are looking forward to another great week of learning together.

Sharon, Erika, Charisse & Minoo

Sharon Gregory 

sgregory001@sdccd.edu 

Erika Peralta, MS

eperalta@sdccd.edu

Charisse Winston, Ph.D.

cwinston@sdccd.edu

Minoo Pakgohar, Ph.D. 

mpakgohar@sdccd.edu