This episode we’re speaking with Daniel Willingham. Dan is Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, where he has taught since 1992. He writes the popular “Ask the Cognitive Scientist” column for American Educator magazine, and is the author of several books including Why Don't Students Like School? and most recently Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning Is Hard and How You Can Make it Easy, the topic of today’s podcast! His writing on education has appeared in nineteen languages, and iIn 2017 he was appointed by President Obama to serve as a Member of the National Board for Education Sciences.
Dan has been on the podcast before, back in episode 25 on the topic of ‘When can we trust the experts?’ which is an episode that I absolutely loved. Dan’s Why Don’t Students Like School is also the first book that introduced me to the simple model of memory – the environment, working memory, and long-term memory – that has provided the bedrock for my whole understanding of what it takes to learn, and therefore to teach.
And in his recent book, Outsmart your Brain, Dan has done it again! He’s produced yet another incredibly valuable and practical guide. This time, that guide is for anyone who wants to learn how to be a better learner. I have a feeling that you’re going to love this episode, and it’s even one that you might like to share with your students too, because the advice is directed at learners even more than it is at teachers!
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Links/resources mentioned in the show
- Dan's suggested books
- Memory and Brain by Larry Squire <-Perhaps the most influential book on Dan, but he wouldn't necessarily recommend this today because it's quite out of date now
- Ollie's Books, Cognitive Load Theory in Action and Tools for Teachers
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This episode of the ERRR podcast is brought to you by Catalyst. Catalyst transforms students' lives through learning by developing excellent teachers and Leaders through evidence-based professional learning programs. Find out more at https://catalyst.cg.catholic.edu.au/
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