The Learning Scientists

The Learning Scientists' Effective Strategies 1-3

The Learning Scientists are researchers in the US and the UK that conduct experiments and liaise with schools to help teachers and pupils use the 6 most effective teaching and learning strategies.

Spaced practice

To use spaced practice, help your students plan early for their exams and important tasks.
When reviewing content in class, make sure you review not only the previous lesson but older content as well.
Objectively, there isn’t an optimal spacing interval. However, researchers agree that the “sweet spot” is when remembering the content is doable, but effortful, so information can be reconsolidated and strengthened.

Retrieval practice

To use retrieval practice, you can ask students to put away their books and write down all they can remember about a topic. Then, they should check and complement their answers.
- It is important that accuracy is checked to avoid misconceptions.
Also provide them with as many practice tests as possible. Students can also create their own questions and exchange them with colleagues.
Frequent low-stake quizzes at the beginning of each lesson are highly recommended.

Elaboration

Ask students Why and How questions. This helps to create connections between multiple ideas.
You can also ask them to compare the similarities and differences between two concepts, or relate them to personal experiences. Once again, it is crucial that accuracy is checked for.

The Learning Scientists' Effective Strategies 4-6

Here are the Learning Scientists' 4th to 6th top strategies.

Interleaving

Switching between topics and ideas is a way to use interleaving. Mixing up problems and questions that demand different solving strategies is also interleaving.
Using interleaving when students are very new to a topic may not be effective as they may confuse the information. This strategy is best used when pupils are more advanced in their knowledge.

Concrete examples

When teaching, use as many examples as possible, linking the content to each example.
- The connection between examples and concept should be made clear and detailed.

Dual coding

Dual coding is the strategy of using different media to teach and learn.
For example, the use of diagrams, timelines, infographics, mindmaps, colours help students understand concepts and also remember them better.
However, be careful not to use too many sources at the same time, as this may considerably increase pupils’ working memory load.

1Memory

1.1Memory Processing

1.1.1Overview of Memory

1.1.2Memory Processing

1.2Types of Memory

1.2.1Types of Memory

1.2.2Working Memory

2How Do We Learn?

2.1Neural Model of Learning

2.1.1Neural Model of Learning

2.1.2Desirable Difficulties

2.1.3The Forgetting Curve

3Cognitive Load Theory

3.1CLT

3.1.1CLT

3.1.2Background Knowledge

4Effective Strategies

4.1Rosenshine's Principles

4.1.1Rosenshine's Top 1-5

4.1.2Rosenshine's 6-10

4.2Dunlosky's Strategies

4.2.1Dunlosky's Strategies

4.3Dylan Wiliam

4.3.1Dylan Wiliam

4.4Daniel Willingham

4.4.1Daniel Willingham

4.5The Learning Scientists

4.5.1The Learning Scientists

4.5.2Practical Ideas

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