New Books in Psychology Pooja Agarwal, Cynthia Nebel, Veronica Yan, "Smart Teaching Stronger Learning: Practical Tips From 10 Cognitive Scientists" (Unleash Learning Press, 2025)
Jul 6, 2025
Pooja Agarwal, an expert in retrieval practice, joins fellow cognitive scientists, Cynthia Nebel, who specializes in student motivation, and Veronica Yan, an interleaving authority. They explore actionable strategies to enhance learning, including the Effective Teaching Cycle that boosts motivation and retention. The trio dives into the importance of interleaving techniques and low-stakes assessments to build student confidence. They also discuss myth-busting in education, emphasizing evidence-based practices for better outcomes.
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Interleaving Enhances Real-Life Learning
- Interleaving mixes practice of skills and concepts in varied order rather than in blocked sets.
- It helps learners flexibly use knowledge as in real life, making practice more effective and applicable.
Low-Stakes Quizzes Reduce Anxiety
- Use low-stakes, cumulative, interleaved quizzes throughout the semester to reduce test anxiety.
- These help students identify problem types and reinforce learning continuously.
Learning Ignites Motivation
- Learning drives motivation, creating a positive feedback loop in education.
- Motivation increases as students experience success and progress in learning.
