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Thinking Deeply about Primary Education

Variation Theory, DI and Cognitive Load Theory: Estranged siblings or rivals to the throne?

Feb 3, 2024
Neil Almond, an expert in variation theory, discusses its application in education research. Topics include analyzing students' experiences with three-digit subtraction tasks, the intersection of variation theory with cognitive load theory and direct instruction, and the importance of contrast, separation, and fusion in enhancing learners' understanding.
38:33

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Variation theory offers valuable insights for primary education, enhancing students' problem-solving and number relation skills.
  • Educators can apply procedural and conceptual variations to structure tasks effectively and promote deeper understanding in students.

Deep dives

Exploring Variation Theory in Handwriting Research

The podcast delves into a recent paper on handwriting instruction by Polito and Theriot, highlighting an updated synthesis of research since 2012. The study addresses the debate on teaching manuscript versus cursive handwriting. The presenters refrain from revealing specific research findings, encouraging listeners to explore the topic further. This forthcoming chapter aims to provide comprehensive insights into handwriting instruction.

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