A construction site: a 6 story building with scaffolding all around, a crane against a sunset

Category Archives: L&B Blog

A construction site: a 6 story building with scaffolding all around, a crane against a sunset

Constructivism, or Constructivism? Part I

If you want to launch a feisty debate in your next faculty meeting, stand up…



Posted in L&B Blog | Tagged | Leave a comment
Teenage girl sitting on floor and trying to learn with post-it notes

Should Students Make Their Own Flashcards, Take II

A respected colleague recently posted a study about making flashcards. The basic question: should students…



Posted in L&B Blog | Tagged | Leave a comment
A closeup of four hands holding out single puzzle pieces, trying to see how to put them together well.

The Jigsaw Advantage: Should Students Puzzle It Out?

The “jigsaw” method sounds really appealing, doesn’t it? Imagine that I’m teaching a complex topic: say,…



Posted in L&B Blog | Tagged , | 1 Comment
College student smiling while taking notes on while studying

Putting It All Together: Connecting “Motivation” with “Teaching Style”

Researchers tend to focus on particular topics in education. Some folks study attention, while others look…



Posted in L&B Blog | Tagged , , | Leave a comment
Young teacher wearing sweater and glasses sitting on desk at kindergarten clueless and confused expression with arms and hands raised.

Overwhelmed Teachers: The Working-Memory Story (Part II) [Updated with Link]

Last week, I offered an unusual take on working memory in the classroom. Typically, I…



Posted in L&B Blog | Tagged , | Leave a comment
Stressed teacher sitting in front of a white board with comlex mathematical equations on it

Overwhelmed Teachers: The Working-Memory Story

If I could pick one topic from cognitive science for ALL TEACHERS to study, that…



Posted in L&B Blog | Tagged | Leave a comment
Thief peering around the corner of a wall at painting he might steal from a museum

Reframing Motivation: Urgent vs. Interesting

You are walking through a museum after closing time, peering into room after room. You…



Posted in L&B Blog | Tagged | Leave a comment
Young children sit on the floor eagerly listening to a teacher, off camera

Help Me Understand: Narrative Is Better than Exposition

I’m straight-up asking for some guidance here. Here’s the story… “Psychologically Privileged” For many years…



Posted in L&B Blog | 1 Comment
Arrows pointed to the center of a target

Feedback Before Grades? Research and Practice…

The plan sounds so simple: Students practice a new skill. Teachers give them feedback. Using…



Posted in L&B Blog | Tagged , | Leave a comment
mathematics professor solving complex equations on a blackboard

Which Is Better: “Desirable Difficulty” or “Productive Struggle”?

The obvious answer to my question is: “what a silly question.” After all, the two…



Posted in L&B Blog | 1 Comment