We even saw it with our children: some children are faster as toddlers to learn new words than others. This new study found that children with larger vocabularies looked quickly towards objects when learning new words. Meanwhile, children who knew fewer words looked back and forth between objects and took more time. The study suggests… Read More Why are some kids slower to learn words?
People who know me, know that I’m a musician, so maybe I could be a bit biased when talking about this new randomized controlled trial with 100 retired participants. The researchers found that 6-month music training led to robust increases in grey matter in healthy older adults and the auditory working memory performance improved after… Read More An important benefit of learning how to play music (RCT)
In some regions, sex education programs have come under scrutiny. This new randomized controlled trial on a specific, comprehensive sex education program shows the program has positive effects. From the press release: Can a school-based sexual health education program that effectively reduces the risk of unintended pregnancy and STIs also decrease homophobia and transphobia? That question drove… Read More How a sex education program can reduce homophobia, transphobia and prevent teen pregnancy
Maybe the title of this post is a bit of clickbait. Sorry for that, but the title isn’t incorrect, as a new study shows that playing against robots makes our brains work harder. I don’t think we should make big consequences based on this – no really, please don’t -, but it is fascinating. From… Read More Sometimes a computer forces your brain to work harder
I think the answer to that question lies in the actual question. Still, this new study examined the causes and found that teachers who struggle to cope with the stress of their job report far lower job satisfaction compared to teachers who find ways to manage the pressure. Who could have guessed? The biggest mistake… Read More Why are so many stressed and burnt-out teachers leaving the profession?
Some time ago, I posted this study on the effect of taking pictures of slides with results that surprised me, and I begged for a replication. This new study is not a replication, but the results align with what one could expect: Using one’s smartphone to take photos enables students to conveniently capture more information,… Read More This result seems more logical: on taking pictures instead of taking notes
A while ago, I posted this meta-analysis on Universal Design for Learning. This Campbel review by Dalgaard from December last year looks at the effect of inclusive education versus a more traditional special education approach to learning. The results are more nuanced, or better: it seems to depend: Results of the meta-analyses do not suggest… Read More Who benefits from inclusive education?
A couple of days ago, I reposted a blog post by Larry Cuban on open classrooms. Today I want to share this new study I found via my good friend Tim Surma published in Nature’s NPJ. Gary Rance and colleagues ingeniously examined the difference between more traditional classrooms and multiple class groups within one physical… Read More The negative effect of “open-plan” classes on reading development in primary education
I have to admit: I’m really bad at recognizing people. That’s why I try to be friendly to everybody. And I think I’m pretty neutral in who I don’t recognize. But maybe I’m not. This new study shows that gender or race can affect how easily you’re forgotten. Women appear more likely to be sorted… Read More Gender or race may make you forgettable
Through this guest blog at the Learning Scientists, I found a subtle but clever addition to the memory model that Daniel Willingham, among others, made popular in a simplified form. This is the version by Daniel Willingham: This is obviously a lot older, going back to Atkinson & Shiffrin’s 1968 model, among others: I found… Read More A clever, subtle addition to the popular memory model
From experience to meaning... 