Education Conferences

The Disordered Mind: What Unusual Brains Tell Us About Ourselves by Eric R. Kandel

Rebecca Gotlieb
by: Rebecca Gotlieb
Posted on: January 20, 2019

One of the most complex unsolved mysteries in science is how the brain produces consciousness.  The study of brain disorders not only helps us understand and treat those conditions; it also renders insights into questions about human consciousness, sense of

Spiders in Budapest: Deeper Understanding of the Brain

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: January 18, 2019

“Why can I forget what the capital of Hungary is, but not that I’m afraid of spiders?” Michael S. C. Thomas kicks off his website “How The Brain Works” with this intriguing question. Dr. Thomas is a good person to

Dodging “Dodgy” Research: Strategies to Get Past Bunk

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: January 15, 2019

If we’re going to rely on research to improve teaching — that’s why you’re here, yes? — we need to hone our skepticism skills. After all, we don’t want just any research. We want the good stuff. But, we face

highlighting

Research Summary: The Best and Worst Highlighting Strategies

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: January 13, 2019

Does highlighting help students learn? As is so often the case, the answer is: it depends. The right kind of highlighting can help. But, the wrong kind doesn’t help. (And, might hurt.) And, most students do the wrong kind. Today’s

Let’s Have More Fun with the Correlation/Causation Muddle

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: January 10, 2019

We’ve explored the relationship of correlation and causation before on the blog. In particular, this commentary on DeBoer’s blog notes that — while correlation doesn’t prove causation — it might be a useful first step in discovering causation. DeBoer argues

procrastination

“Wait Just a Minute!”: The Benefits of Procrastination?

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: January 8, 2019

“A year from now, you’ll wish you had started today.” This quotation, attributed to Karen Lamb, warns us about the dangers of procrastination. Presumably our students would propose a slightly modified version: “The night before the test, I’ll wish I

grades and motivation

True/False: Grades Motivate Students to Study Better?

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: January 5, 2019

The following story is true. (The names have been left out because I’ve forgotten them.) When I attended graduate school in education, I handed in my first essay with some trepidation, and lots of excitement. Like my classmates, I had

Physics and Engineering: My New Year’s Resolution

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: January 1, 2019

  Over on Twitter, @DylanWilliam wrote: “[P]hysics tells you about the properties of materials but it’s the engineer who designs the bridge. Similarly, psychology tells us about how our brains work, but it’s teachers who craft instruction.” In other words,

personal best goals

New Research: Personal Best Goals (Might) Boost Learning

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: December 31, 2018

Some research-based suggestions for teaching require a lot of complex changes. (If you want to develop an interleaved syllabus, you’re going to need some time.) Others couldn’t be simpler to adopt. Here’s a suggestion from researchers Down Under: encourage your

Bit by Bit, Putting It Together

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: December 30, 2018

Over at Teacherhead, Tom Sherrington has posted a form that teachers can use for lesson plans. He has put together different versions: one filled-in with explanations, another left blank for teachers to use, yet another for adapting and editing. The Bigger