attention — Learning Scientists Blog — The Learning Scientists

Jun 27

Jun 27 Stress and Memory

Learning Scientists Posts, For Researchers, For Students, For Parents, For Teachers

When we are presented with a stressful event, a variety of hormones, neurotransmitters, and peptides are released in our brains. All of these things work to activate systems to help us cope with the stressor. This initial response is typically referred to as the “fight-or-flight” response. If you were walking in the woods and actually saw three bears your fight-or-flight response would put your system on high-alert. Your body diverts resources from less-pressing matters, like digestion, and focuses on giving you superhuman strength and speed…

May 2

May 2 Learning From Videos

Althea Need Kaminske

For Students, Learning Scientists Posts

There is a wide range in quality of educational videos that learners navigate. A range in quality of content, production, and relevance. Whether you’re a student watching lecture videos for class, watching videos as a supplement to your regular coursework, or a life-long learner who simply wants to learn more about the world (and tuberculosis), I want to talk about two strategies that can help you learn more from videos.

Jan 26

Jan 26 GUEST POST: Smartphone Learning: When Students Should Use it, and When to Avoid it!

Learning Scientists

Guest Posts, For Students

Students have immediate access to their work on a smartphone. According to Pew research [1], 85% of Americans own a smartphone, with that large number increasing to 96% for adults ages 18-29. College students universally own smartphones. Kara Sage in her research on college student use and …

May 26

May 26 GUEST POST: Can Digital Detox Improve your Learning Abilities?

Learning Scientists

Guest Posts, For Parents, For Students, For Teachers

The world will never be the same since we own digital devices. Indeed, the Internet can alter cognitive processes (1), for example, by promoting continuous division of attention - which in turn reduces our ability to maintain concentration on a particular task.

Mar 3

Mar 3 Let It Go: The Benefits of Mind Wandering

Althea Need Kaminske

Learning Scientists Posts

We live in a world full of distractions. I’ve written previously about the benefits of meditation for attentional focus and learning, we’ve provided tips for students on how to ignore irrelevant information while studying, and provided resources for how to reduce mind-wandering. And while it is important that we be able to focus when we need to, I want to reassure all the daydreamers out there that letting your mind wander every now and then can actually be really beneficial.

Sep 9

Sep 9 Retrieval Practice and Processing Load

Megan Sumeracki

For Teachers, For Researchers, Learning Scientists Posts

If you read our blog even occasionally, you know retrieval practice has many benefits. Retrieval improves learning and memory, reduces test anxiety, and can protect against learning losses associated with stress. Today, I’ll be writing about another benefit of retrieval practice, reducing processing load. …