Elliot Morgan, an expert in education, discusses making learning more challenging. They explore what challenge is, the conditions surrounding learning, and how to sustain challenge over time. The podcast emphasizes the importance of pushing students out of their comfort zones and engaging them with tasks that promote deep knowledge.
Challenge in learning stems from the intersection of prior knowledge with new information, prompting deep thinking and engagement with material.
Balancing cognitive load is crucial in learning, with tasks slightly surpassing mental resources to push learners out of their comfort zone.
Incorporating desirable difficulties in education, such as spaced practice and testing, enhances long-term retention and transfer of knowledge.
Deep dives
Defining Challenge in Learning
The podcast explores the concept of challenge in learning, defining it as the amount of effort required to successfully learn a new concept. It highlights the importance of engaging prior knowledge, emphasizing the pivotal role it plays in learning new information. The discussion delves into the idea that challenge arises when existing knowledge meets new information, requiring learners to think deeply and engage with the material.
Optimizing Cognitive Load for Learning
The episode discusses cognitive load in learning, referring to the balance between task demands and available mental resources. It likens cognitive load to a seesaw, where an imbalance can lead to cognitive overload or underutilization of resources. By visualizing this balance, the podcast suggests that challenging tasks should slightly tip in favor of task demands to push learners out of their comfort zone.
Desirable Difficulties in Education
The podcast explores the concept of desirable difficulties in education, which involve intentionally incorporating challenges that slow down learning initially but enhance long-term retention and transfer. Methods such as varying study conditions, interleaving topics, spacing practice, and using testing are discussed as effective ways to optimize learning. The episode emphasizes the importance of creating conditions that promote deep learning and retention over time.
Sustaining Challenge Over Time
It is essential for learners to build prior knowledge gradually over various periods, as demonstrated in the curriculum example provided in the podcast. The nuanced understanding of subjects like history and geography contributes to a deeper insight into global affairs and motivations behind countries' actions. The incorporation of cross-curricular knowledge, such as locational awareness in a North America unit, enhances comprehension and critical thinking skills. Understanding the link between prior knowledge and challenging tasks highlights the importance of a scaffolded learning approach.
Enhancing Learning Through Stress and Retrieval Practice
Stress during learning can enhance information encoding and impact the act of retrieval, particularly relevant for secondary students facing exams. The podcast references a meta-analysis by Vogel and Schwabber highlighting the beneficial aspects of stress on learning processes. Additionally, emphasizing low stakes retrieval practices can counteract the negative impact of stress, promoting memory consolidation and linking to improved information recall. Ensuring foundational knowledge fluency, such as times tables, through regular retrieval practice, supports learners in managing stress and improving retention skills.
Episode 167: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I'm joined by Elliot Morgan for an exploration of how and when we can make learning more challenging. As part of the chat we discuss...
What challenge is
The conditions surrounding learning
Sustaining challenge over time
...and much, much more.
If you enjoy this episode, please support us by subscribing to our YouTube channel, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or making a donation via www.ko-fi.com/tdape.
If you have any questions or comments, you can email us at thinkingdeeplyinfo@gmail.com or join our Discord server, where we have a special channel for unseen question submission.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode