When it comes to innovation within education, trivia has a role to play, says this Houston edtech startup founder. Photo via Getty Images

Recently, our focus shifted towards quizzing — how to assess knowledge and retain information in the most innovative way possible. Personally, we are not in favor of low-level questions that simply rely on cramming, as they block away creativity. The primary motivation of traditional learning is punitive with high demands of simply, making the students read the content.

Castrophying effective learning with poor teaching methods has caused a stir of poor performance despite raging talent, the students perform badly. The question is why? Is quizzing not the proper assessment tool? Before we jump onto the bandwagon, let's understand the power of effective learning.

Effective learning and trivia

Using technological, societal, and cultural trends to upgrade from traditional white-board methods towards evolving modern technology is what leads to effective learning. With UpBrainery, we focus on technological advancements that personalize the experience to meet the unique needs and preferences of individual learners. The goal is to combine different strategies and approaches, including personalized learning, collaborative learning, multimodal learning, and accessible learning. These approaches may incorporate a variety of tools and technologies, such as adaptive learning platforms, online collaboration tools, virtual and augmented reality, and assistive technologies for learners with disabilities.

That being said, trivia can certainly be a valuable addition to a well-rounded learning approach. It can help learners stay engaged and motivated, while also stimulating memory, attention, creativity, and learning transfer. In the future, we may see more innovative and interactive forms of trivia-based learning, as well as new tools and technologies for supporting cognitive development and effective learning in a variety of contexts. How cool will that be?

Trivia and cognitive processes

Cognition refers to the mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, and using knowledge. Trivia can be a fun and engaging way to help individuals improve their memory skills.

By learning and recalling new facts, individuals can strengthen their ability to store and retrieve information, which can support learning and problem-solving in other areas. It helps individuals improve their attention skills by requiring them to focus on new information and recall it quickly. This can be particularly helpful for individuals with attention deficit disorders or other challenges that make it difficult to stay focused for extended periods of time.

Furthermore, it stimulates creativity by encouraging individuals to think outside the box and come up with new ways of connecting and interpreting information. By exploring new facts and ideas, individuals can develop their ability to generate new insights and solutions to problems. Finally, trivia can help individuals transfer learning from one context to another. By learning new facts and ideas in a trivia context, individuals can develop their ability to apply that knowledge in other areas of their lives, such as work or school.

Overall, while trivia may not be a complete substitute for other learning methods, it can be a valuable tool for supporting and enhancing learning in a variety of contexts.

Trivia in classroom

Through research and incorporating trivia as a source of effective learning, we have gathered a few ways how to support learning in different contexts:

1. Classroom learning: Trivia can be used to support classroom learning by introducing interesting and unusual facts that relate to the topic being studied. For example, if students are learning about the solar system, a teacher could share trivia facts about each planet to help students remember key characteristics.

2. Online learning: Trivia can be used in online learning environments to add an element of fun and engagement to the material. For example, an online course on history could include trivia quizzes at the end of each module to help learners reinforce their understanding and test their knowledge.

3. Study groups: Trivia can be a useful tool for study groups to review material and prepare for exams. By creating trivia questions that cover key concepts and facts, study groups can help each other reinforce their understanding and identify areas where they may need additional support.

4. Corporate training: Trivia can be used in corporate training programs to make the material more engaging and memorable. For example, a training session on customer service could include trivia questions that relate to common customer service scenarios and help employees to remember key principles and best practices.

5. Personal learning: Trivia can be a fun and engaging way to learn new information on a personal level. For example, if you are interested in a particular topic, you could challenge yourself to learn a certain number of trivia facts about it each day or week, helping you to deepen your understanding and expand your knowledge base.

With that being said...

Trivia can be a fun and engaging way to learn new facts and information across a wide range of topics. It increases student participation, improves test scores, lowers failure rates, and overall boosts overall motivation and the will to learn more. With this in mind, at UpBrainery Technologies, we focus on innovative teaching methods to make education fun rather than a burden, check out our Brainlab and get access to unlimited resources, and crash courses.

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Ghazal Qureshi is the founder and CEO of UpBrainery, a Houston-based immersive educational technology platform that taps into neuroscience research-based programs to provide adaptive learning and individualized pathways for students at home or in the classroom.

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Houston robotics co. unveils new robot that can handle extreme temperatures

Hot New Robot

Houston- and Boston-based Square Robot Inc.'s newest tank inspection robot is commercially available and certified to operate at extreme temperatures.

The new robot, known as the SR-3HT, can operate from 14°F to 131°F, representing a broader temperature range than previous models in the company's portfolio. According to the company, its previous temperature range reached 32°F to 104°F.

The new robot has received the NEC/CEC Class I Division 2 (C1D2) certification from FM Approvals, allowing it to operate safely in hazardous locations and to perform on-stream inspections of aboveground storage tanks containing products stored at elevated temperatures.

“Our engineering team developed the SR-3HT in response to significant client demand in both the U.S. and international markets. We frequently encounter higher temperatures due to both elevated process temperatures and high ambient temperatures, especially in the hotter regions of the world, such as the Middle East," David Lamont, CEO of Square Robot, said in a news release. "The SR-3HT employs both active and passive cooling technology, greatly expanding our operating envelope. A great job done (again) by our engineers delivering world-leading technology in record time.”

The company's SR-3 submersible robot and Side Launcher received certifications earlier this year. They became commercially available in 2023, after completing initial milestone testing in partnership with ExxonMobil, according to Square Robot.

The company closed a $13 million series B round in December, which it said it would put toward international expansion in Europe and the Middle East.

Square Robot launched its Houston office in 2019. Its autonomous, submersible robots are used for storage tank inspections and eliminate the need for humans to enter dangerous and toxic environments.

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This article originally appeared on EnergyCapitalHTX.com.

Houston's Ion District to expand with new research and tech space, The Arc

coming soon

Houston's Ion District is set to expand with the addition of a nearly 200,000-square-foot research and technology facility, The Arc at the Ion District.

Rice Real Estate Company and Lincoln Property Company are expected to break ground on the state-of-the-art facility in Q2 2026 with a completion target set for Q1 2028, according to a news release.

Rice University, the new facility's lead tenant, will occupy almost 30,000 square feet of office and lab space in The Arc, which will share a plaza with the Ion and is intended to "extend the district’s success as a hub for innovative ideas and collaboration." Rice research at The Arc will focus on energy, artificial intelligence, data science, robotics and computational engineering, according to the release.

“The Arc will offer Rice the opportunity to deepen its commitment to fostering world-changing innovation by bringing our leading minds and breakthrough discoveries into direct engagement with Houston’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said in the release. “Working side by side with industry experts and actual end users at the Ion District uniquely positions our faculty and students to form partnerships and collaborations that might not be possible elsewhere.”

Developers of the project are targeting LEED Gold certification by incorporating smart building automation and energy-saving features into The Arc's design. Tenants will have the opportunity to lease flexible floor plans ranging from 28,000 to 31,000 square feet with 15-foot-high ceilings. The property will also feature a gym, an amenity lounge, conference and meeting spaces, outdoor plazas, underground parking and on-site retail and dining.

Preleasing has begun for organizations interested in joining Rice in the building.

“The Arc at the Ion District will be more than a building—it will be a catalyst for the partnerships, innovations and discoveries that will define Houston’s future in science and technology,” Ken Jett, president of Rice Real Estate Company, added in the release. “By expanding our urban innovation ecosystem, The Arc will attract leading organizations and talent to Houston, further strengthening our city’s position as a hub for scientific and entrepreneurial progress.”

Intel Corp. and Rice University sign research access agreement

innovation access

Rice University’s Office of Technology Transfer has signed a subscription agreement with California-based Intel Corp., giving the global company access to Rice’s research portfolio and the opportunity to license select patented innovations.

“By partnering with Intel, we are creating opportunities for our research to make a tangible impact in the technology sector,” Patricia Stepp, assistant vice president for technology transfer, said in a news release.

Intel will pay Rice an annual subscription fee to secure the option to evaluate specified Rice-patented technologies, according to the agreement. If Intel chooses to exercise its option rights, it can obtain a license for each selected technology at a fee.

Rice has been a hub for innovation and technology with initiatives like the Rice Biotech Launch Pad, an accelerator focused on expediting the translation of the university’s health and medical technology; RBL LLC, a biotech venture studio in the Texas Medical Center’s Helix Park dedicated to commercializing lifesaving medical technologies from the Launch Pad; and Rice Nexus, an AI-focused "innovation factory" at the Ion.

The university has also inked partnerships with other tech giants in recent months. Rice's OpenStax, a provider of affordable instructional technologies and one of the world’s largest publishers of open educational resources, partnered with Microsoft this summer. Google Public Sector has also teamed up with Rice to launch the Rice AI Venture Accelerator, or RAVA.

“This agreement exemplifies Rice University’s dedication to fostering innovation and accelerating the commercialization of groundbreaking research,” Stepp added in the news release.