While there have been numerous setbacks in the education sector over the last 18 months, there have also been some very hopeful strides forward that we should acknowledge. The pursuit for the ideal learning environment for children hasn’t slowed down during the pandemic, whether it’s in education technology, building stronger school communities, or knowing more about the best ways to study.
Research into evidenced-based ways of teaching is central to this drive forward in the education sphere. One development at the forefront of this is cognitive science which has become an increasingly important part of how teaching is thought about. Cognitive science is, in basic terms, the study of how the brain functions and how it solves the problems it faces on a daily basis. Clearer understandings of this process have a direct impact on the classroom as they lead to techniques being developed to maximise learning processes. Cognitive science is now taught to Early Career Teachers to give them an increased understanding of memory and cognitive load, and OFSTED also draw significantly on cognitive science in their framework. A key goal of education is the ability to transfer previous knowledge to solve new problems and create new learning. Incorporating cognitive science into the classroom can give children these skills.
The Education Endowment Foundation released a report over the summer that demonstrated a rise in the use of cognitive science to inform classroom techniques. The EEF’s examination discovered that the majority of the strategies they looked at had a positive impact on learning and retention rates. Basic cognitive principles were used in these tactics; more complicated applied cognitive science principles require a lot more research and careful execution.
Because cognitive science is still a new field of research, especially in terms of practical application, the prospect of introducing it into the classroom can be daunting for both seasoned and newly trained instructors. According to the EEF study, inappropriate application of cognitive principles techniques can be more harmful than not employing them at all, thus teachers must be certain of their goals before introducing tactics to their students. It’s critical that you get it right!
Impact Wales, a provider of professional learning for teachers that focuses on cognitive research, has partnered with GCSEPod. They assist schools and teachers in turning research into successful classroom practice. Impact Wales has a wealth of tools that are quite helpful in understanding how learning occurs. Could GCSEPod help you?
We’re passionate about education and the significant influence that GCSEPod can have on student achievement and, as a result, their future lives. Individuals, including mature students, home educators, and parents who simply wish to offer their child a helping hand with their GCSE revision, can subscribe to GCSEPod. According to data, students who use GCSEPod earn one grade higher in each subject.