The book is an easy read - a good mix of research, examples, and tips, with a language that is aware of an audience not steeped in social science terminology. I encourage you to read through it, dip into this book and find a couple of ideas that you want to try.
Here some of the key points (according to me):
1. Students need to learn content so that, down the line, they can become experts who can think critically and creatively. Learning content is hard, especially when the standard learning methods are based on ways that we know do not work - studying by rereading notes, underlining the textbook, and cramming before a test. We need to guide our students to learn differently by giving the opportunities to practice retrieval of data. This can be done in small ways at the beginning of class through questions to remind them what happened before, by connecting learned knowledge to a question geared towards the new content, and by asking them to reflect at the end of class.
Interleaving learning by not only block learning new content but interleaving old learning as review will build stronger neural connections and make it easier for students to build the new knowledge into their existing system.
Predicting how something new will work out and fit into existing knowledge not only adds to this building of pathways but it also triggers emotional responses (competition) that will make for deeper learning.
2. Students need to understand and apply content, so that they can transfer their learned knowledge to new situations. This means we need to give them opportunities to practice, and while we tend to do this through assignments, we need to remember that we ask them not only to show off their learned knowledge but also other skill sets. So, if we ask them to write a lab report, we need to break down the assignment not only into its content components for practice but also into its skill components - how do I observer, how do I write a lab report and give those moments of practice.
3. Students need to be inspired to learn - again, emotion is important, and if we can show them through our passion why what they are learning is important, they will find the content easier to digest. Add to this compassion when needed . Passion and compassion do not translate into entertainment, However, good stories are memorable, which will, again, make learning easier.
4. Students are stuck in study habits that are unproductive - we need to force them to change, we need to be transparent what we do in class and show them how they are learning better when they follow our guidance.
Here some of the key points (according to me):
1. Students need to learn content so that, down the line, they can become experts who can think critically and creatively. Learning content is hard, especially when the standard learning methods are based on ways that we know do not work - studying by rereading notes, underlining the textbook, and cramming before a test. We need to guide our students to learn differently by giving the opportunities to practice retrieval of data. This can be done in small ways at the beginning of class through questions to remind them what happened before, by connecting learned knowledge to a question geared towards the new content, and by asking them to reflect at the end of class.
Interleaving learning by not only block learning new content but interleaving old learning as review will build stronger neural connections and make it easier for students to build the new knowledge into their existing system.
Predicting how something new will work out and fit into existing knowledge not only adds to this building of pathways but it also triggers emotional responses (competition) that will make for deeper learning.
2. Students need to understand and apply content, so that they can transfer their learned knowledge to new situations. This means we need to give them opportunities to practice, and while we tend to do this through assignments, we need to remember that we ask them not only to show off their learned knowledge but also other skill sets. So, if we ask them to write a lab report, we need to break down the assignment not only into its content components for practice but also into its skill components - how do I observer, how do I write a lab report and give those moments of practice.
3. Students need to be inspired to learn - again, emotion is important, and if we can show them through our passion why what they are learning is important, they will find the content easier to digest. Add to this compassion when needed . Passion and compassion do not translate into entertainment, However, good stories are memorable, which will, again, make learning easier.
4. Students are stuck in study habits that are unproductive - we need to force them to change, we need to be transparent what we do in class and show them how they are learning better when they follow our guidance.
I encourage you to read this book - and then see what you are already doing and be more intentional about your teaching!
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