Just a teacher using the science of learning to teach 7th graders about the world.
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One of the principles of cognitive science that most directly shapes the way I teach is Daniel Willingham’s simple observation that “memory is the residue of thought.” We have all heard or seen the quote before.
For the first three days of school, my 7th grade World Studies students won’t learn about the world.
Every day, maybe even every minute or hour these days, someone will claim that students, and humans for that matter, no longer need to learn facts because AI can simply provide the information whenever they need it.
When I recently shared photos of my classroom on X, the responses, as to be expected, varied dramatically.
The Biggest Change Was Learning What to Remove
A random Thursday morning in Mr.
Last year was my first year implementing knowledge organizers.
For a long time, my journey into the science of learning, explicit instruction, and cognitive science felt incredibly isolating.
One of the most robust findings to emerge from cognitive science is that experts and novices do not think in the same way.
Welcome back to my Summer Refinement Series!
