Information about education provided online, with recent results of scientific research and useful information for teachers, parents, students and the general public. Contributing to an informed debate.
Daniel Willingham is a professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, where he has been teaching since 1992. Until about 2000, his research focused solely on the role the brain and memory play in learning. Today, all of his research concerns the application of cognitive psychology to K-16 education.
Daniel Willingham is the author of several books, including the best-selling Why Don't Students Like School?, and, most recently, Outsmart Your Brain. His writing on education has been published in 23 languages.
In 2017 he was appointed by President Obama to serve as a Member of the National Board for Education Sciences.
Does Developing a Growth Mindset Help Students Learn?
Growth mindset has become a wildly popular theory in the last 15 years, due not only to a book that has sold more than 2 million copies and a TED Talk that’s been viewed more than 14 million times but also to countless professional development sessions, Pinterest boards, and blog posts. It’s no wonder that in a 2016 survey of American teachers, just 4 percent said they were “completely unfamiliar” with mindset theory. Is there any substance behind the hype?
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How Can Educators Teach Critical Thinking? (Pt.2)
Individuals vary in their views of what students should be taught, but there is little disagreement on the importance of critical thinking skills. In free societies, the ability to think critically is viewed as a cornerstone of individual civic engagement and economic success.
How Can Educators Teach Critical Thinking? (Pt.1)
Individuals vary in their views of what students should be taught, but there is little disagreement on the importance of critical thinking skills. In free societies, the ability to think critically is viewed as a cornerstone of individual civic engagement and economic success.
Do Manipulatives Help Students Learn?
Research in the last few decades has complicated our view of manipulatives. Yes, they often help children understand complex ideas. But their effectiveness depends on the nature of the manipulative and how the teacher encourages its use. When these are not handled in the right way, manipulatives can actually make it harder for children to learn.