The Science of Learning Explained

What is the science of learning?

Delving into the science of learning provides parents and teachers with a deeper understanding of how children acquire and retain knowledge. This insight into the cognitive intricacies of learning enables parents to offer targeted support, ultimately enhancing their children’s educational journeys.

Teachers armed with a deep understanding of cognitive processes and individual needs are well-equipped to guide learning using diverse strategies. These approaches foster profound curriculum retention that extends beyond exams, shaping enduring knowledge. As parents, immersing ourselves in the science of learning empowers us to enrich our children's educational journeys with personalized and enjoyable methods. Grasping the influence of emotions on memory and tailoring techniques to diverse learning styles equips us to actively nurture our children's intellectual development and overall success.

Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI), is a teaching style that is characterized by a high-structured and systematic teaching approach that is underpinned by the science of learning. It is proven to help students master new skills and concepts through breaking down complex ideas into smaller, manageable steps which provide clear and concise explanations.

Cognitive Processes

Understanding the world of cognitive processes is essential in shaping how we learn and grow. These mental operations conducted by the brain process information, enabling us to make decisions and adapt to various situations, ultimately influencing our success. These processes are divided into two categories: basic and higher cognitive processes.

1. Basic Cognitive Processes

• Perception: Capturing sensations and assigning meaning.
• Attention: Selecting and focusing on stimuli.
• Information Processing: Compiling and processing captured information.
• Memory: Storing and retaining information for future use.

2. Higher Cognitive Processes

• Thinking: Gathering information to make judgments and deductions, fostering learning and adaptability.
• Executive Functions: Managing behavior through planning, decision-making, and inhibiting impulses.
• Learning: Paying attention to, storing, and retrieving stimuli.
• Language: Regulating behavior through communication, both verbal and non-verbal.
• Creativity: Developing new strategies beyond existing knowledge.
• Motivation: Directing behavior and energy towards specific goals.

Cognitive processes shape cognitive skills, which can be trained and improved throughout life. Just as physical exercise strengthens muscles, cognitive exercises enhance skills like memory, concentration, and association. An example is language interpretation, which involves memory, learning, and thinking processes.

These processes significantly impact professional success, especially executive functions like planning, inhibition, monitoring, decision-making, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and problem-solving. These skills foster effective project management, impulse control, adaptability, and optimal decision-making, aligning with today's fast-paced work environments.

Cognitive flexibility aids teamwork by considering diverse perspectives, while problem-solving skills are highly valued by employers. To enhance professional growth, focusing on these cognitive processes can lead to a more successful career. Embracing lifelong learning and skill development is key. The world of cognitive processes is a gateway to achieving personal and professional excellence.

Active Learning - What is the Meaning of Active Learning?

Active learning involves engaging students in activities that require them to process information, apply concepts, and interact with the material. Research shows that active learning promotes deeper understanding and retention compared to passive learning methods like listening to lectures. Examples of active learning strategies in the classroom can include; the think-pair-share technique, jigsaw discussions, group discussions and role playing.

Retrieval Practice

In the science of learning, retrieval practice emerges as a crucial element, acting as a powerful technique to heighten memory retention and enhance the ability to recall information. Unlike passive review, retrieval practice involves actively recalling information from memory. This process reinforces neural pathways, resulting in improved accessibility to the information in the future.

Implementing retrieval practice for children can include; quizzing oneself on the material studied rather than simply rereading notes. This is similar to the Freynman or ‘platypus’ technique, which is based on evidence that shows teaching an inanimate object improves understanding and knowledge retention of a subject. This forces the brain to actively retrieve the information, strengthening memory and improving long-term retention. Retrieval practice can be done by posing questions related to the material or trying to recite key points without looking at the notes. This simple yet powerful technique transforms learning into an active and engaging process, leading to more effective learning outcomes.

Interleaved Practice and Why It’s Effective

Like a recipe that adds a dash of adaptability to your child’s learning process, interleaved practice is a clever strategy in the science of learning. Instead of focusing on one subject at a time, interleaved practice involves mixing different topics or skills during study sessions. Just like combining various ingredients makes a dish more flavorful, interleaving subjects helps your child's brain distinguish between concepts and enhances their problem-solving skills. There are multiple ways of implementing interleaving, which could look like; instead of studying only addition problems, your child could practice addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems in the same session. This technique might seem unconventional, but research shows that it's highly effective. It challenges the brain to differentiate and apply what's been learned, making your child a more flexible learner in the long run.

Spaced Repetition

Spaced repetition acts like a secret formula for boosting memory and promoting lasting learning in children. Rather than cramming all at once, spaced repetition involves revisiting learned material over time. This technique allows the brain to strengthen memories and build a solid foundation of knowledge.

For instance, when your child practices their math facts or learns new vocabulary words at regular intervals, they're helping their brain retain information more effectively. By spreading out study sessions, their memory becomes stronger, ensuring they remember and understand concepts well beyond the immediate testing period.

Parents and teachers can implement spaced repetition by revisiting topics periodically or utilizing educational apps that adapt to the child's learning pace. This practical approach empowers your child's learning journey by ensuring that knowledge remains ingrained for the long haul.

Growth Mindset

Viewed as a compass for your child's educational journey, the concept of growth mindset holds a significant place in the science of learning. It functions much like a tool that reshapes challenges into opportunities. Essentially, the growth mindset is a theory of learning that underscores the belief in the potential for skills to evolve through effort and education. By embracing a growth mindset, your child approaches learning with the understanding that mistakes and setbacks are essential steps towards improvement.

Growth mindset in the classroom could look like encouraging children to shift from having the perspective of “I can’t do it yet”, to instead “I can’t do it!”. This shift encourages them to persevere, take on challenges, and ultimately, enhance their learning outcomes. A growth mindset helps learning by creating a positive feedback loop, where effort leads to improvement, and improvement fuels more effort. By fostering a growth mindset in your child, you're equipping them with a powerful mindset that propels their learning journey to new heights.