The Science of Learning

The Science of Learning Substack explores research on effective teaching practices and learning techniques. It covers the impact of visuals, emotions, and gestures in teaching, learning strategies like retrieval practice, and the effects of classroom setups. It also addresses educational myths and evaluates methods like flipped classrooms and SEL programs.

Instructional Techniques Emotional and Social Learning Study Strategies Classroom Environment Educational Technology Cognitive Myths Mindfulness and Mental Health Math Education

The hottest Substack posts of The Science of Learning

And their main takeaways

Does Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) improve academic outcomes?

219 implied HN points • 12 Aug 24
🚌 Education Learning Research Curriculum Instruction Assessment
  1. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) helps students with their emotions and relationships but it's unclear if it boosts academic performance. Some studies show positive impacts, while others do not.
  2. Different schools use SEL in varied ways, making it tough to gauge its true effectiveness. This inconsistency leads to mixed results in research about SEL's benefits.
  3. There's no strong evidence that SEL reduces the achievement gap or promotes equity in education. More focused studies are needed to really understand SEL's long-term effects.

Should elementary and secondary teachers "flip" their classroom?

279 implied HN points • 15 Jun 24
🚌 Education Classroom Management
  1. Flipped classrooms ask students to learn material at home, which can allow more time for hands-on activities in class. But this may only help if teachers usually give long lectures.
  2. Not all studies agree that flipping classes is better. Many results vary, and sometimes it's just about how much time students spend learning, not the flipping method itself.
  3. There can be challenges like students missing out if they don't do the pre-class work, or if they lack resources at home. Good learning is really about mixing new content with active learning in a clear way.

Edu-Snippets

299 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🚌 Education Learning Theory Teaching Strategies Digital learning Educational Technology Study Techniques
  1. Learners do better when instructors show positive emotions. It's important for teachers to be happy or excited during lessons.
  2. Creating your own digital flashcards helps you learn better than using pre-made ones. Making them yourself can improve your memory and understanding.
  3. Positive energy during teaching can make students pay more attention and feel more engaged. This shows how important the instructor's mood can be for learning.

Edu-Snippets

279 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🚌 Education Learning Strategies Cognitive Psychology Educational Technology
  1. Using human-like gestures and pointing when teaching online can help students learn better. It's more effective than just making eye contact with the learners.
  2. Asking questions before a lesson, known as prequestioning, can boost learning. It prepares students to focus on important information during the lesson.
  3. Teaching methods should balance engaging methods, like visuals or animations, with clear guidance on what to focus on in the material for better understanding.

Should Instructional Videos Include a Talking Head?

319 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🚌 Education Learning Theory Online Learning
  1. Talking heads in instructional videos, where the teacher appears on screen, have mixed effects. Some studies say they can distract learners and hurt their ability to remember facts.
  2. On the other hand, having a talking head can make students feel more connected to the teacher, which is important in online courses where they might feel lonely.
  3. There's no clear answer on whether to use talking heads. It might help to use them in fully online classes but not in classes where students regularly see the teacher.
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Edu-Snippets

219 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🚌 Education Brain function
  1. Teaching facts is important because they help build a foundation of knowledge. This foundational knowledge makes it easier to learn new things later on.
  2. The idea that people are strictly 'left-brained' or 'right-brained' is a myth. Everyone has different strengths, and these come from a mix of genetics and experiences, not brain structure.
  3. Multitasking is misunderstood; humans can only focus on one mentally demanding task at a time. Instead of multitasking, we often switch between tasks, which can make us less efficient.

Edu-Snippets

219 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🚌 Education Learning Pedagogy Research Study Techniques Cognitive Science
  1. Retrieval practice helps all students remember what they learned better, whether they know a lot or a little about a topic. It involves recalling information, like through quizzes, and boosts memory retention.
  2. Studying over spaced intervals is more effective than cramming all at once. Mixing up different subjects or topics during study sessions can also improve learning by making it more engaging.
  3. Many college students don't realize how beneficial spacing and mixing subjects can be for their studying. Teaching them about these techniques can help them study smarter and remember better.

Do school-based mindfulness programs reduce mental health problems?

139 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Mindfulness Education Stress management Youth Programs
  1. School-based mindfulness programs can help students manage stress, but they don't really help with serious mental health issues like depression.
  2. Research shows that mindfulness can improve self-awareness and stress management, yet other methods like yoga also work just as well for reducing stress.
  3. It's important to teach mindfulness to students, but it won't solve all mental health problems. Real treatment needs trained professionals.

Edu-Snippets

159 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🚌 Education Teaching Methods Student Engagement
  1. Highly decorated classrooms can distract kids, making it harder for them to focus on lessons.
  2. Children tend to learn reading skills slower in open-plan classrooms compared to traditional ones.
  3. Using short instructional videos can help reduce the need for extra tutoring in online courses.

Welcome to the Science of Learning!

179 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🚌 Education Learning Science Cognitive Psychology Neuroscience
  1. The newsletter focuses on the latest research in learning science and how it can improve teaching practices. It's a great way for educators to stay informed.
  2. Readers can expect to see summaries of studies and practical tips for applying research findings in the classroom. It’s meant to help enhance teaching effectiveness.
  3. It's free to subscribe and will have new content coming out once or twice a month. This offers a chance for teachers and learners to engage with new ideas together.

Edu-Snippets

119 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
🚌 Education Learning methods Student Performance Classroom Management
  1. The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that helps people stay focused and fight procrastination by working in short, timed intervals followed by breaks.
  2. Taking practice tests can lower test anxiety and help students remember what they've learned, making them better prepared for actual exams.
  3. Classrooms experience a lot of interruptions throughout the year, which can hurt student learning. Reducing these interruptions may help improve student performance.

Does cursive writing offer educational benefits over printing?

119 implied HN points • 21 Aug 23
🚌 Education Literacy Curriculum Writing Research Child development
  1. Handwriting, whether cursive or printing, is better than typing for young kids. It helps them with spelling, letter recognition, and memory.
  2. There is no solid proof that cursive writing is better for cognitive skills than printing. Both styles seem to be pretty equal in benefits.
  3. The claims about cursive writing being more helpful for critical thinking or expression are not supported by research. It's important for kids to practice any handwriting to become fluent.

Edu-Snippets

139 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🚌 Education Pedagogy Psychology Cognitive Science Technology Nature
  1. Giving students worked examples in math can help them feel less anxious and learn better. It makes math easier for those who usually struggle with it.
  2. Being in nature can help people feel more relaxed and focused, while watching videos of nature doesn't have the same benefits. For real restoration, you need real nature.
  3. Brain training apps may help you get better at their specific games, but they don’t really make you smarter in everyday life. They haven't shown strong proof of boosting general brain skills.

Novice Teachers and Study Strategies

79 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🚌 Education Teaching Methods Learning Strategies Educational Research
  1. Novice teachers often don't know the best study strategies and can recommend less effective ones when asked spontaneously.
  2. They tend to recognize effective study methods when given a list, indicating they have some knowledge but struggle to apply it in real situations.
  3. Teaching new teachers about effective study strategies could help them give better advice to students, leading to improved learning outcomes.

Edu-Snippets

99 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🚌 Education Learning methods Teaching Strategies Cognitive Psychology Educational Technology
  1. Taking notes by hand helps students remember lectures better than just taking photos of the slides. It encourages more focus and understanding of the material.
  2. Teaching others about a topic can improve a student's own learning. Even explaining to an imaginary audience can help deepen their understanding.
  3. Using flashy animations in PowerPoint slides can make it harder for students to remember important information. It's better to keep slides simple and focused on the main points.

Should we teach children to memorize the multiplication tables?

4 HN points • 26 Jun 23
🚌 Education Mathematics Learning Theory Curriculum Development Cognitive Science Pedagogy
  1. Children benefit from memorizing multiplication tables because it helps them solve math problems more easily. When students know their math facts, they can focus on more complex thinking instead of getting stuck on basic calculations.
  2. Research shows that students who memorize math facts do better in math overall. This memorization builds a strong foundation for advanced math skills later on.
  3. It's important to strike a balance between memorization and understanding in math education. Teaching kids to remember math facts can actually support their overall learning and make problem-solving easier.