Cognitive Load Theory research delivers evidence for 100-year-old practice used by Montessori

Yesterday Jan De Mol messaged me these two studies that bring together cognitive load theory and the work by Maria Montessori. I do think the second study seems to be underpowered, but I can follow the reasoning. Do read this excerpt of the press release: Finger tracing has been used by teachers to help students… Read More Cognitive Load Theory research delivers evidence for 100-year-old practice used by Montessori

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Are we born with communication skills?

Baby’s start communicating very fast, and the oldest question in the book seems to be: is this nature or nurture. Quite often it’s both, but where lies the starting point? A neuroscientist and speech pathologist led a study that uncovered how neural networks in infants influence their language learning skills in early childhood suggesting that… Read More Are we born with communication skills?

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The impact of caregiver deaths due to COVID-19: 1.5 million children lost a primary or secondary caregiver

We’ve lost a lot of people in the pandemic. A study published in The Lancet this summer shows that more than 1.5 million children around the world are estimated to have lost at least one parent, custodial grandparent, or grandparent who lived with them due to death related to COVID-19 during the first 14 months of… Read More The impact of caregiver deaths due to COVID-19: 1.5 million children lost a primary or secondary caregiver

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Are you retired? Keep using the internet!

This study still only shows a correlation, although the researchers try to go a long way to eliminate other possible explanations: using the internet during your retirement years can be linked to your cognitive functions! From the press release: Researchers from Lancaster University Management School, the Norwegian University Science and Technology and Trinity College Dublin… Read More Are you retired? Keep using the internet!

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This study made me rethink (and that’s a good thing): Do Low-Income Students Have Equal Access to Effective Teachers?

The idea seems pretty straightforward: we know teachers can have a huge impact so getting the best teachers with the pupils who need them the most, could make education more equal. It’s an idea that I have suggested myself already a couple of times. But… this new study by Isenberg et al begs to differ… Read More This study made me rethink (and that’s a good thing): Do Low-Income Students Have Equal Access to Effective Teachers?

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How a kindness assignment in an undergraduate course impacted student perceptions of themselves, their peers and their campus

Hurray, my students are coming back to the campus this week. Next week I’ll be teaching again on campus. At the same time, we know that there are still a lot of students who aren’t feeling that ok. Maybe it’s true and a small act of kindness can go a long way? This study does… Read More How a kindness assignment in an undergraduate course impacted student perceptions of themselves, their peers and their campus

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Again, sadly enough: Infants exposed to domestic violence have poorer cognitive development

The negative influence of stress on the cognitive development of infants has been shown again and again, and this new study does the same again, sadly enough. Infants coming from homes with domestic violence often go on to have worse academic outcomes in school due to neurodevelopmental lags and a higher risk for a variety… Read More Again, sadly enough: Infants exposed to domestic violence have poorer cognitive development

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