Monthly Archives: September 2018

hands-on learning

Does Hands-On Learning Benefit Science Students?

In a recent study, hands-on learning and other inquiry strategies did not help 4th graders master science concepts. The reason? Working memory limitations. Continue reading



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Research on Note-Taking: A Teachable Skill

Over at the Cult of Pedagogy, Jennifer Gonzalez has a FANTASTIC post summarizing lots of research on note-taking. Some headlines: Note-taking is a skill we should teach. Visuals improve notes. Pauses for revision and reflection help a lot. I should



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paper vs. screens

The Best Way to Read? Paper vs. Screens

The “paper vs. screens” debate has a clear winner: in most circumstances, students understand better and learn more when they read from paper. Continue reading



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stress and memeory

Video: Stress and Memory

The folks over at TedEd have posted an excellent video exploring the relationship between stress and memory. The video lasts only a few minutes, but it includes lots of helpful information. In particular, note that we can’t simply say “stress



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self-control paradox

The Self-Control Paradox: Resistance is (Often) Futile

The “self-control paradox” leads to a surprise. We shouldn’t help students resist temptation. Instead, we want them to avoid temptation in the first place. Continue reading



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Twice Exceptional: Supporting and Educating Bright and Creative Students With Learning Difficulties by Scott Barry Kaufman

Students who have both exceptional talents and learning difficulties have been understudied and underserved in the educational system. Fortunately, Twice Exceptional: Supporting and Educating Bright and Creative Students with Learning Difficulties helps shed light on this unique and diverse population. 



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replication crisis

Do We Actually Know What We Think We Know?

Teachers trust research when several studies reach the same result. Sadly, the current “replication crisis” means that we don’t always know what we know. Continue reading



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Sad News

  Like so many who study psychology, we at LatB are terribly sad to learn that Walter Mischel has died. The New York Times obituary describes his importance — both in revolutionizing the field of psychology, and in popular understanding



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new brain cell

Have We Finally Arrived at 2nd Grade?

When I first met him, Kurt Fischer used to say “when it comes to the brain, we’re all still in kindergarten.” (Who’s Kurt Fischer? Well, if you want to connect psychology, neuroscience, and education, you’re following Kurt’s work. He started



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collaborative learning

Update on “Collaborative Learning”

Last week, I wrote about a potential strategy for making group-work more effective. A Boston-based research team has found reason to think that “intermittent” collaboration might yield better results than constant (or absent) collaboration. Although I’m excited to see these



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