Psychology, Education and Neuroscience (PEN) Principles
Integrate research into your teaching with these infographics on PEN Principles from the University of Queensland.
Principle #1 shows written text and spoken words together hinder learning, as the brain processes both in the same area.
Instead, combine visuals with speech. Images and narration activate different neural areas, enabling better processing.
Tips:
– Use images over on-screen text in lectures
– Limit text handouts during instructions
– Replace wordy slides with visuals to complement talking
Ever wondered why we find it challenging to read a text-heavy slide while listening to a lecture? Or why we can remember more details from a film than a book?
Research reveals that when students view relevant visual images while listening to spoken words, different parts of their brains are activated – leading to enhanced learning outcomes.
However, pairing heavy textual content with spoken words isn’t as effective. Why? Because reading and listening activate the same region of the brain, forcing students to choose between the two and potentially missing valuable information.
So, what’s the takeaway for educators? Mimic film and television as much as possible in presentations, and reduce text-heavy material during lectures and discussions.
Ever wondered if the structure of your classroom or the layout of your PowerPoint slides could impact your students’ learning? Research suggests it certainly can!
This principle suggests that the predictability of visual patterns can actually help students learn more efficiently. If a student can anticipate where an image or piece of information will appear, they can process and react to it more quickly. It’s all about leveraging ‘implicit learning’ – the brain’s ability to learn and utilise patterns without conscious effort.
In practical terms, it means that maintaining consistent presentation materials and classroom layouts can significantly boost learning. So, keeping images and key messages in the same location on your slides, or maintaining a stable seating arrangement in your classroom, could help your students focus and learn more effectively.
Ever thought about the impact of the learning environment on academic performance? Just like a sports team playing on their home ground, our learning space can influence our outcomes too!
Researchers found that students who prepare for an exam in the exam room often out-perform those who prepare elsewhere. But, those used to learning in different locations perform better in unfamiliar testing environments!
Have you considered the power of spaced learning?
Research shows that spreading study sessions over time significantly improves long-term learning and memory. This principle applies across all ages and subjects, from reading in pre-school to complex surgical techniques in medical school.
Consider scheduling regular review sessions throughout the term instead of one large revision session.
Ever thought you could juggle multiple tasks simultaneously and still maintain peak performance? Contrary to common belief, our brains don’t truly multitask. Instead, they switch rapidly between tasks, activating less reliable memory networks in the process. The result? Impaired performance, weakened memory, and a reduced attention span.
This is not just a fascinating insight into how our brains work, but it also has crucial implications for our classrooms. As our infographic illustrates, with the rise of technology, the temptation to multitask is ever-present. However, the science suggests that we need to encourage our students to focus on one task at a time for optimal learning outcomes.
Did you know that varying your learning tasks can significantly enhance your students’ performance? It might feel counterintuitive. After all, isn’t repetition the mother of learning? While repetition is crucial, changing up how you practise and review material can lead to deeper understanding and better long-term retention.
Remember, it’s not about making learning harder—it’s about making it stick!
This principle shows that making mistakes and understanding why they are wrong is a critical part of the learning journey. It encourages students to reflect, consider, and understand concepts at a deeper level. Our infographic illustrates this concept.
So, let’s foster an environment where mistakes are stepping stones, not stumbling blocks.
Research shows open-ended questions activate deeper parts of the brain compared to multiple choice questions.
Even though open-ended questions are harder, forcing your brain to actively retrieve info builds stronger long-term memory.
Are we perhaps underestimating the power of open-ended questions and active recall in our teaching and learning practices?
Check out our infographic for more on how active recall trumps passive review, based on neuroscience, cognitive psychology and education research.
Research reveals that our initial impressions, good or bad, can significantly influence our perceptions and classroom outcomes. In the context of assessment, if a teacher forms a positive first impression of a student, they may be unconsciously biased to grade that student more favourably in exams and assignments.
Combat the ‘halo effect’ in assessment with these key strategies:
– Blind Grading: Remove student identifiers during grading.
– Clear Rubrics: Use specific grading criteria.
– Self-Reflection: Regularly check for potential biases.
Ever considered the transformative power of storytelling in your lessons? At the heart of every fact, there’s often a compelling story waiting to be told – one that could ignite the fire of learning in your students.
Research shows that when we listen to facts as part of a story, we simulate those experiences, leading to improved engagement, empathy, and motivation. Moreover, this method enhances memory, with individuals demonstrating up to 60% better retention of facts!
So, why not incorporate this principle in your lessons? Present the background story of facts, share relevant personal experiences, or encourage students to construct fictional narratives around related facts. These steps could significantly enhance engagement with the material and inspire a deeper understanding of the topics.
Ever wondered how seemingly unrelated activities could shape your students’ understanding of a lesson? The answer lies in ‘priming’, a powerful psychological tool that can influence our responses.
Learn how pre-lesson activities can prime students for better interpretation and understanding of lesson content. Consider the questions they raise about how far learning strategies can be primed, which types of activities prime specific strategies, and how adaptable these activities are for various classrooms.
