Written By
Aditya Shukla, Psychologist & EdTech Consultant
1
The most basic way students learn is by imitation - copying what teachers, experts, adults, and peers say or do. Monkey See, Monkey Do works for skills, concepts, reactions, and decisions.
2
Periodic repetition strengthens the connections between neurons. These neurons “hold” what you learn. Eventually, learning becomes automatic, like a habit after many repetitions.
3
Metaphors are a gateway to understanding new details that feel confusing. Analogies help in comparing and contrasting similar concepts. Use them to strengthen conceptual understanding.
4
High variation in the type of solved problems and questions helps conceptualize learning material. Adding feedback (immediate, delayed, and superficial) improves precision.
5
Meta-cognition is reflecting on study material, connecting it to the real-world, re-studying it from a different source, analyzing errors, making mental connections between concepts. This strengthens all aspects of learning.
6
Curiosity is as natural instinct to learn more. While learning, finding an interesting topic and then snowballing around it tends to strengthen learning because you are already motivated.
7
Chunking is grouping information together based on similarity and category. Chunking increases the ability to remember short-term and long-term, and makes information more meaningful.
8
Learn concepts and examples in a mixed fashion instead of in order based on type. Mixing improves conceptual understanding and problem-solving abilities.