How People Learn Panel

Kimberly FennDepartment of PsychologyMichigan State UniversityApril 27, 2012

Topics

• Memory Consolidation

• Embodied Cognition in the Classroom

• Test-enhanced Learning

Memory Consolidation

• Offline memory processing during sleep• Strengthen/stabilize memory• Inoculate learning against loss • Increase generalization or transfer of skill learning

• Performance benefits seen in the absence of further practice

Learning doesn’t stop when students leave the classroom

Memory Consolidation

• Efficacy of time of test, in relation to learning event

• When can you best measure actual ability?

Learning doesn’t stop when students leave the classroom

Embodied Cognition in the Classroom

• Motor processing is involved with basic cognitive processing

The hockey player finished the shot.

Embodied Cognition in the Classroom

• Motor processes not only affect cognition, but also affect learning

• Learning can be improved by overt actions • Memory is stronger when tasks are performed than when the same

information is studied

• Learning can be improved via the observation of action (e.g. hand gesture)• Math learning in children is improved if instruction includes gesture

Involving the motor system in instruction can increase learning and memory

Test-enhanced Learning

• Practicing the skill of retrieval leads to greater stability in memory

• Foreign language vocabulary learning 1. Study and Test on all material (4x)

2. Continue testing on all material (4x) but stop studying once correct response was obtained

3. Continue studying all material (4x) but stop testing once correct response was obtained

4. Study and Test on all material once, but stop both once correct response obtained

Retrieval Practice

Karpicke & Roediger, 2008

Karpicke & Roediger, 2008

Retrieval Practice

1. Study and test on all material (4x)2. Continue testing on all material but stop

studying3. Continue studying all material but stop testing4. Study and Test on all material 1x, but stop

both

Retrieval Practice

• Practicing retrieval leads to greater long-term retention than additional studying

• Related studies have found that students do not believe that this form of practice will increase performance

More frequent classroom assessments can increase

overall memory performance

Learning doesn’t stop when students leave the classroom

Involving the motor system in instruction can increase learning and memory

More frequent classroom assessments can increase

overall memory performance