Leigh in Azerbaijan

Here’s my summary of research-based Principles of Learning, from a section of one of my current M.Ed readings.  I’ve made a poster that I may display in the classroom for all the learners there – that includes me.

1. Role of time, effort, and motivation
To become an expert takes a long time – perhaps 5 to 10 years of consistent skill development.

2. Concentration span
The first 15 minutes is when the best learning takes place.

3. Spacing effect/ Distributed practice
Learning new material is best done in short periods spaced over several days or weeks.

4. Prior knowledge effect
It is far easier to build on existing knowledge than to learn new material.

5. Principles of information structuring
Overviews (advance organisers) of what we are to learn, are a great help to learning.

6. The mind responds well to  multi-media input
Claims that some students are ‘visual learners’, and others are ‘tactile learners’ etc. are unsubstantiated.  We all learn most effectively when the inputs we receive are via several different media.