Two Guys on Your Head

Cramming the night before a test might get you through the exam, but chances are that information will be gone by next week. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the difference between learning and doing well on a test, why cramming works in the short term, and how teachers can help students see that learning matters beyond the grade. Source

Writer’s block! That phrase might induce panic and a recollection of a familiar experience. It’s a very common phenomenon. So what is it? When in the beginning stages of undertaking a new writing project, a writer might find themselves blocked – stuck in front of a blank page or screen with no thoughts coming to mind. This lack of creative flow is further exacerbated by anxiety over the lack of… Source

Figuring something out intellectually can be a struggle, but when you finally get there, you feel a sense of accomplishment, maybe even joy. That joy is a big part of learning, and it comes from challenges that are hard but still within reach; it’s similar to working out and bodybuilding. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about how to… Source

We deal with annoyances every day, but why do some things annoy us a lot more than others? In part two of this two-part Two Guys on Your Head series on the psychology of annoyance, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the role that pain, expectations, and stories play in how we experience and deal with things that annoy us. Source

Why is it that some things really annoy us while others we couldn’t care less about? It turns out it has a lot to do with predictability and attention: we get annoyed when something we didn’t choose or anticipate intrudes on our attention, or when we are stuck paying attention to something we would rather tune out. In part one of this two-part Two Guys on Your Head series, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Source

In the moment, threatening punishment might seem like a good idea, but does it work? It turns out it depends on your goal. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of punishment and reveal why scolding, threats, and consequences might get short-term results but rarely lead to lasting change. Source

There are times when we feel out of sync with what we want in the world and how we act in the world. Say you’re longing for close, lasting relationships, but you are acting in a way that says you don’t believe you’re worthy of love, pulling back or pushing people away without quite knowing why. The techniques used by cognitive behavioral therapy might help. But as Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke… Source

AI tools can help us extend our capabilities and our capacity, but what about our brains? When is using AI beneficial, and when can it be detrimental to our ability to learn and think? In Part II of our conversations on “When To Use AI,” Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke and Rebecca McInroy talk about an opportunity AI presents: thinking with AI tools to clarify our own thoughts and ideas. Source

AI tools are ubiquitous and, let’s be honest, mind-blowing in their capabilities. But when is it healthy and productive to use them, and when is it not? What impact does relying on AI have on our ability to learn, to be creative, to think? In this first “Two Guys on Your Head” episode in our series, “When To Use AI,” Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk through a few red flags… Source

It’s that time of year again when fresh-faced little ones with new backpacks and clean shoes head back to school. On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy wanted to provide some tips to help teachers set the stage for a successful and happy year. Source