Chalk & Talk

Ep 4. Cognitive load theory with Greg Ashman

Olivier Chabot's AI podcast notes
AI-generated based on their snips

1. To ensure optimal teaching, break lessons into smaller chunks and encourage constant feedback. Comparing the progress of students using a fancy teaching method to those using 'business as usual' approach may yield positive results, not necessarily attributed to the new teaching method alone.
2. Active control is essential in comparing interventions in education. Comparing different interventions and conditions highlights the importance of investing in different approaches. Implementing explicit teaching methods can be effective.
3. Working memory has a limited capacity, serving as a safety mechanism to prevent rapid changes to long-term memory. Drip feeding new knowledge allows us to ensure that it has value before acquiring it.
4. When teaching math, students should immediately practice solving problems with the same deep structure but slightly different surface features. Presenting multiple methods for solving a problem can be distracting and ineffective. Teachers should demonstrate a problem and then have students attempt a similar problem to reinforce learning.
5. Gradually guide students from guided practice to solving complex problems they haven't seen before. Scaffolding is important to help students develop mathematical ability, procedure, and conceptual understanding for problem-solving.
6. Motivation in math is best achieved through improved achievement. The most effective method of teaching math is the most motivating for students. Evidence is needed to support claims about non-permanent vertical surfaces and increased motivation after using this method for six months.
7. Ineffective teaching methods cause students to feel a sense of failure and reluctance to participate. Teaching students well, so they can feel a sense of accomplishment and improvement, is essential to get them back on track and motivated to learn.
8. Causing students to struggle in a math lesson is not desirable and may be unethical.

Highlights created by Olivier Chabot

Teaching explicitly in small chunks and get feedback using small whiteboards.

22:22 • 1min

A: Treatment B: Explicit C: Business as usual

25:47 • 1min

Limited working memory acts as a filter for the noise of the world and insures signal.

30:11 • 1min

Exactly the same as was thought. Not more difficult.

36:45 • 1min

Problem solving of new problems isn't a skill. There are just the basics.

38:07 • 1min

You get more motivate at math by getting better at math.

52:51 • 1min

It's feasible to become proficient at math with minimal struggle.

56:47 • 1min