Is “Sit Still!” outdated?
Teachers are constantly urging pupils to sit still in the classroom so they can pay attention to what is being taught. But studies have suggested that school children should do some physical activity before entering the classroom, and others that they should have short “brain breaks” during classes and be allowed to move around for a few minutes now and then.
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Does retrieval practise improve learning in real-life classrooms? A recent database will help us answer this question
Recalling prior knowledge and information to be learned is a well-established strategy to improve long-term learning and memory. However, in what circumstances might retrieval be helpful? A systematic review of research on retrieval practise, conducted in classroom settings, help us answer this question.
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Executive Functions - The “stop and think” indispensable for learning
We are not born knowing how to inhibit distractors and prioritise tasks. The ability to “stop and think” is learned, and it is crucial to succeeding in school and in life.
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Double-Barrelled Learning for Young & Old
When accompanying text with images, a learner learns better. However, this only works when they are combined properly!
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A Brief Overview of Working Memory
Working memory is an important concept that we’ve referred to in passing in several other Learning Scientist posts. This relatively simple concept influences how we think about learning and memory, so I wanted to give a brief overview of what working memory is, how it works, and why it’s important.
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Avoiding the disadvantages of being a good teacher
Disadvantages? But are there any disadvantages to being a good teacher?
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Myth Warning! Children Aren’t Digital Natives and Can’t Multitask
Many people inside and outside of education think that today’s children are multitasking digital natives with special cognitive skills and abilities that allow them learn differently than previous generations. Spoiler alert: Both are myths.
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Studying more pays-off, but how much?
Several studies prove the more one studies, the higher the salary. Generally, for each additional year of schooling, the salary increases on average by about 10%. But the benefits are also for society: greater education generates less crime and better health.
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How Should Students Take Notes?
Taking notes by hand seems to be better than taking notes using a laptop because it requires students to put the notes into their own words. However, the research is nuanced! It is important to remember, too, that if laptops are creating distractions learning will suffer.
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Reading on paper or reading on screen?
Are digital media affecting reading comprehension? It seems the answer to this question is "yes".
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For our brain, learning is inevitable
The human brain shapes itself to respond to everyday experiences. A spontaneous process that leads us to be always learning.
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Is dyslexia a brain disorder?
What evidence supports the theory that dyslexia is a brain disorder or a symptom of a brain disorder? How do difficulties in reading differ from difficulties in playing music or chess? A recent scientific article show another way of approaching dyslexia.
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