Close up of student with head down on a wooden desk, hair covering his or her face. Other students are working out of focus in the background.

Can students “catch” attention? Introducing “Attention Contagion”

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: May 5, 2024

Every teacher knows: students won’t learn much if they don’t pay attention. How can we…

A futuristic drawing of two heads facing each other, with dramatic lines showing extensive and expansive thinking

Should Teachers Be Excited about “Neural Synchrony”?

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: April 28, 2024

This blog — and this company — exist to give good advice to everyone who…

An actor, presumably playing Hamlet, holding up a skull while standing against an all-black background

Improving Multiple-Choice Questions: A Thought-Provoking Pause

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: April 21, 2024

Many teachers carry strong ambivalence about multiple-choice questions (handy abbreviation: MCQs). On the one hand,…

brightmind

Insight into a Bright Mind by Nicole Tetreault

Erik Jahner, PhD
by: Erik Jahner, PhD
Posted on: April 17, 2024

Insight into a Bright Mind: A Neuroscientist’s Personal Stories of Unique Thinking is a profoundly…

Middle schooler wearing headphones and doing work in front of her laptop at a desk

Just In Case: Improving Online Learning

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: April 14, 2024

We teachers benefit A LOT from research-based guidance, but we do have to acknowledge a few…

A colorful bar graph, showing 20%, 40%, 60%,etc.

Graphic Disorganizers; or, When Should Teachers Decorate Handouts?

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: April 7, 2024

Teachers regularly face competing goals. For instance: On the one hand — obviously — we…

A serious-looking college student examining her phone

To Insta or Not to Insta: That Is the Memory...

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: March 31, 2024

Here in the US, we’re having something of a national debate about the benefits/harms of…

Crowds surround a burning mansion at night

I Am a Doctrinaire Extremist; S/he Is a Thoughtful Moderate

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: March 24, 2024

I recently had an email exchange with an educational thinker and leader who has spent…

prat

The Neuroscience of You by Chantel Prat

Erik Jahner, PhD
by: Erik Jahner, PhD
Posted on: March 21, 2024

What a blast! Despite diving into countless neuroscience introductions, this journey felt uniquely enjoyable, resonating…

Side view of student girl enjoying summer breeze , smiling with eyes closed

Does Mind-Wandering Harm Learning?

Andrew Watson
by: Andrew Watson
Posted on: March 17, 2024

If you teach children for several hours a day, you just know that sometimes they’re…