Neuroscience research tells us that learning happens in three phases: encoding (turning to long-term memories), consolidation (storing information), and retrieval (getting that information). The physical space and social and emotional well-being can also impact learning. So how can we bolster that learning? Digital Promise curated a list of ten insights and what they look like in practice.
1) Communicating high expectations and keeping learners at the edge of their mastery helps each student reach their potential. This insight is a really simple one that can look like teachers saying "I believe you can do this" or "you can do hard things". When students work at the edge of mastery while receiving encouragement, it engages the brain deeply and pushes them past their current level. Think Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). The old saying "practice makes perfect" also applies here. You wouldn't send your football team out to a game without first practicing! Adding a message to your morning meeting or intro slides is a great place to start. In the example below, I used classroom screen to add my encouraging message.
2) Retrieval practice strengthens memory and helps students flexibly apply what they learn. In practice, this can look like using flashcards or making quizzes low-stakes and predictable (meaning students have plenty of warning in advance). Taking quizzes or answering flashcards is a great way to trigger the retrieval part of learning. The more students practice retrieving this information, the more the neurons are activated, and the quicker they can retrieve that information. This goes along with the old saying "use it or lose it", while it's not true that you will lose the information, it will become more and more difficult for your brain to access the information if the neurons are not being used. A great new website I stumbled across is called Cram. Students can create flashcards from scratch or import a file from their Google Drive. Watch the TikTok video below to learn more.
@bisdwiredteam Who doesn’t love a good digital flash card? This one even comes with built in games. How fun! #cram #cramflashcards #edutok #techtek #education #edu ♬ 1989混音 (QzQ Remix) - TaylorSwift
3) Collaboration and social interaction can be powerful learning experiences because they encourage deeper processing and engage the ‘social brain.’ In the classroom, this looks like having students prepare a lesson to teach the class on a topic they have researched or working together in groups. When students truly collaborate, they do not divide and conquer, instead, they share and co-create. Research shows that relational interactions can drive learning. Encourage your students to discuss and think about ideas they may not have considered. There are plenty of Ed Tech tools out there that you can use for collaboration. Some oldies but goodies include Padlet, PearDeck, Google Drive, and Flip. For a more extensive list of Ed Tech Tools to use for collaboration click here.
To see the full list of insights, click here.
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