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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."
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ABOUT THE BLOG
![Hispanic student wearing a blue shirt raising his hand to ask a question in class](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AdobeStock_84434810-768x512.jpeg)
Starting Class with “Prequestions”: Benefits, Problems, Solutions
We’ve known for many years now that retrieval practice works. That is: after we have…
![A graphic of two heads facing each other in conversation: one with a lightbulb inside, the other with a question mark.](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AdobeStock_134476305-768x432.jpeg)
The Trad/Prog Debate Gets Weird
Few debates rage hotter in education circles than that between educational progressives and educational traditionalists….
![Book Cover for The Hidden Lives of Learners by Graham Nuthall. The cover shows a mountain range in front of a blue and cloudy sky.](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Hidden-Lives-of-Learners.jpg)
The Hidden Lives of Learners
Many times over the last several years, I’ve heard enthusiastic reviews of a seemingly-magical book…
![Photograph of the author, wearing a blue shirt, pink tie, and glasses, smiling at the camera](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Headshot-Lean-Crop-768x958.jpg)
To 600, and Beyond…
WordPress informs me that this is the 601st article I’ve posted on this blog. That’s…
![Man wearing Virtual Reality goggles, making gestures in the air](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Virtual-Reality-768x576.jpg)
My Detective Adventure: “VR Will Transform Education”
A friend recently sent me a link to an article with a click-baity headline: something…
![An image of a brain in a human head, with EEG waves in the background](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Brain-EEG-Waves-768x576.jpg)
How Teachers Can Use Neuroscience in Education
I recently saw two very different looks at neuroscience and learning, and I thought they…
![Downside to Oxytocin](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/AdobeStock_63357143_Credit.jpg)
Warning: Misguided Neuroscience Ahead
I recently ran across a version* of this chart: As you can see, this chart…
![African American student wearing a bow tie, hand to forehead, looking frustrated and disappointed](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Frustrated-Student-768x576.jpg)
The Limitations of Retrieval Practice (Yes, You Read That Right)
Last week, I wrote that “upsides always have downsides.” That is: anything that teachers do…
![Thumbs Up Thumbs Down](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Thumbs-Up-Thumbs-Down-768x576.jpg)
Upsides Always Have Downsides: “Side Effects” in Education Research
Here at Learning and the Brain, we believe that research can improve education. Specifically, research…
![Teacher at Whiteboard](https://www.learningandthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Teacher-at-Whiteboard-768x576.jpg)
Getting the Details Just Right: Retrieval Practice
Can we ever research a topic too much? Can we reach a point where, well,…