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Getting Meta about Metacognition
In this article, I explain how we evaluate our own learning and knowledge, also known as metacognition, and why our metacognition can sometimes go awry.
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Applying the Pausing Principle to University Classes
Large lectures can lack student engagement and be distracting. However, introducing lecture pauses with peer discussion can improve learning by facilitating meaningful interaction with course content.
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Flashcards: Are you using them effectively when learning?
Flashcards are often recommended as a way to help students prepare for exams. However, do students use this study tool in an effective way?
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Collaborative Inhibition: The Surprising Effect of Recalling Information in Groups
It is often said that “Two heads are better than one,” but do memory researchers agree? This article discusses the surprising effect known as collaborative inhibition.
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Mythbusters: Studying in the same place, at the same time, every day is good for learning
Educators often advise students to find a quiet place to study and then only study in that place, but does following that advice actually benefit learning?
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The Debate on Simultaneous and Sequential Lineups
Incorrect eyewitness identifications are a serious problem for the justice system. In this post, I describe simultaneous and sequential lineup formats and the ongoing debate over whether one of these formats results in more accurate witness identifications.
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Using Evidence-Based Study Strategies to Optimize Your Learning
Students are rarely taught how to study and often choose inefficient study strategies as a result. In this article I discuss what leads students to choose these strategies and offer alternatives backed by research in cognitive psychology and education.
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Why Can’t We Quit Fake News?
We know fake news is bad for us and for society, yet the presence of fake news continues to grow. In this post, I discuss three psychological reasons why we continue to fall victim to fake news.
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The Dangers of Fluency
Fluency is a useful cognitive tool that we use when choosing study strategies, buying products, and assessing information accuracy. Yet, there are times when fluency can mislead us and result in meaningful consequences.