-
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Watson
Andrew began his classroom life as a high-school English teacher in 1988, and has been working in or near schools ever since. In 2008, Andrew began exploring the practical application of psychology and neuroscience in his classroom. In 2011, he earned his M. Ed. from the “Mind, Brain, Education” program at Harvard University. As President of “Translate the Brain,” Andrew now works with teachers, students, administrators, and parents to make learning easier and teaching more effective. He has presented at schools and workshops across the country; he also serves as an adviser to several organizations, including “The People’s Science.” Andrew is the author of "Learning Begins: The Science of Working Memory and Attention for the Classroom Teacher."
Tags
ADHD adolescence attention book review boundary conditions classroom advice conference speakers constructivism/direct instruction creativity desirable difficulty development dual coding education elementary school embodied cognition emotion evolution executive function exercise experts and novices gender high school homework intelligence long-term memory math methodology middle school mindfulness Mindset motivation neuromyths neuroscience online learning parents psychology reading retrieval practice self-control skepticism sleep STEM stress technology working memoryRecent Comments
- Replication Studies: Validating Previous Findings in 2024-2025 - Editverse on Messy Science: How to Prepare Students for the Real World...
- What is a “Growth Mindset”? | Tech, Enterprising Architecture, and Related Topics on The Rise and Fall and Rise of Growth Mindset
- Phenomenological Studies: Exploring Lived Experiences in 2024-2025 on Why We Forget and How to Remember Better by Dr....
- Demystifying the concept of deep work – Gyfted on The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World by...
- The Jigsaw Advantage: Should Students Puzzle It Out? [Repost] |Education & Teacher Conferences on Getting Bossy about Jigsaws; “Don’t Fence Us In”
ABOUT THE BLOG
![Skeptical Magnifying Glass](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Skeptical-Magnifying-Glass-768x576.jpg)
The First Three Steps
Early in January, The Times (of London) quoted author Kate Silverton (on Twitter: @KateSilverton) saying:…
![Blog Braid](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Blog-Braid-768x432.jpg)
A “Noisy” Problem: What If Research Contradicts Students’ Beliefs?
The invaluable Peps Mccrea recently wrote about a vexing problem in education: the “noisy relationship…
![Dual Coding](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Dual-Coding-768x432.jpg)
Teaching with Images: Worth the Effort?
According to Richard Mayer’s “multimedia principle,” People learn better from words and pictures than from…
![Best Video Speed](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Best-Video-Speed-768x432.jpg)
Let’s Get Practical: How Fast Should Videos Be?
Research often operates at a highly abstract level. Psychologists and neuroscientists study cognitive “tasks” that…
![researchEDGuidetoEandDI](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/researchEDGuidetoEandDI-768x1104.jpg)
The Benefits of Direct Instruction: Balancing Theory with Practice
When teachers hear that “research shows we should do X,” we have at least two…
![Colored spice background. Spices and herbs top view](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AdobeStock_187302751-768x587.jpeg)
The Best Kind of Practice for Students Depends on the...
In some ways, teaching ought to be straightforward. Teachers introduce new material (by some method…
![College Students Texting](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/College-Students-Texting-768x576.jpg)
When Does Technology Distract Students? The Benefits of Research that...
I spoke with several hundred students last week about research-based study strategies. As always, students…
![Microphone](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Microphone-768x576.jpg)
Why I Still Love Learning and the Brain Conferences
I attended my first Learning and the Brain in 2008; I believe the topic was…
![Black College Student Holding Phone](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Black-College-Student-Holding-Phone-768x576.jpg)
Is “Cell Phone Addiction” Really a Thing?
I recently read a tweet asserting “the fact that cell phones are proven to be…
![Hispanic female college student studying](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Hispanic-female-college-student-studying-768x576.jpg)
The Best Way to Take Class Notes
Teachers often ask me: “how should my students take notes?” That question typically springs from…