Employ cognitive theory in the classroom every
day
Research into how we learn has opened the door
for utilizing cognitive theory to facilitate better student learning. But
that's easier said than done. Many books about cognitive theory introduce
radical but impractical theories, failing to make the connection to the
classroom. In "Small Teaching, " James Lang presents a strategy for
improving student learning with a series of modest but powerful changes that
make a big difference--many of which can be put into practice in a single class
period. These strategies are designed to bridge the chasm between primary
research and the classroom environment in a way that can be implemented by any
faculty in any discipline, and even integrated into pre-existing teaching techniques.
Learn, for example: How does one become good at retrieving knowledge from
memory? How does making predictions now help us learn in the future? How do
instructors instill fixed or growth mindsets in their students?
Each chapter introduces a basic concept in
cognitive theory, explains when and how it should be employed, and provides
firm examples of how the intervention has been or could be used in a variety of
disciplines. Small teaching techniques include brief classroom or online
learning activities, one-time interventions, and small modifications in course
design or communication with students.
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