Spire_Education

Cognitive load theory doesn't matter

Cogntive Load Theory doesn’t matter.

New Snow Report blogpost.
pamelasnow.blogspot.com/2025/07/cogn...

Curios of the week #124 Clippings, endnotes and other ephemera

NEW CURIOS Free section, perhaps inevitably, has a little more on AERO and grumpy academics plus a new course by JUMP Maths founder, John Mighton.

fillingthepail.substack.com/p/curios-of-...

I focus on Daniel Willingham’s idea, “Memory is the residue of thought.” Trying to make sure that I know what I want the students to think about and ensuring that any unnecessary thinking is limited.

A terrific summary. I particularly like the reference to the broader ideas of cognitive science rather than the conversation being narrowed to ‘science of learning.’ A broad understanding of how cognition works is important. #EduSky

A wonderful array of techniques to support real student learning. #EduSky

Interesting take with some well made points. I guess you have to get creative when you don’t have the knowledge to complete a task. #EduSky

OPAL playtimes are a game-changer! The impact that @playscotland.bsky.social made at Udston Primary is incredible. - get ready to be inspired! 🎥 youtu.be/_rqYFNh0uUU #Edusky #ScotEduSky #Play #OPAL

Carl Rogers did a lot of work on UPR. Another idea he had was self actualisation. Both of these were useful to me when working in Juvenile Justice.

I use this after an instruction. I thank 5 stds in turn for following instruction, repeating something about the task each time. 4th & 5th students are those who may not have heard or take longer to process. This way they have heard the direction 4 times and get caught doing the right thing.

A simple but very effective technique.
I once wrote a simple two digit by two digit addition sum on the board for a class. By the time I turned around 3 students had already completed it. I then said, Tell me everything you can about this without writing the answer. Heads exploded.

Will probably be adding this to “The Knowledge Gap” and “The Writing Revolution.” #EduSky

I’ve never been able to work out why reading and writing conducted in history and geography etc can’t be considered as part of the literacy time. This provides real context to literacy activities.

Simple strategies, good explanations and an effective plan to develop writing as students progress through school.

This will be worth listening to. #Edusky

Quite common now when ringing companies. However interesting recently when Dutton & wife were mocked online PM Albanese and Prem. Allen both said exactly the same thing. “Families are off limits.” I would have thought a better statement would’ve been “Abuse is off limits.” A fish rots from the head.

If you’ve spent your career promoting the idea that teaching is about helping students figure things out for themselves, it’s going to be really hard to accept you were wrong and have caused harm.

For those interested in student wellbeing please have a look @drsueroffey.bsky.social #EduSky

Might be one worth watching. #EduSky

Add to the list of people I follow - @amycedmondson.bsky.social , @rebeccabirch.au , @retrievelearn.bsky.social , @didau.bsky.social , @learnwithmrlee.bsky.social , @paulkirschner.bsky.social and @dylanwiliam.bsky.social . All in no particular order of course!
#EduSky

Trying to work out how to find Education feeds on Bluesky. I will try this feed. I have no idea at this stage if it is useful at all but we’ll see.

Wanting to connect with people involved in education. Particularly interested in cognitive science. Following @natwexler.bsky.social , @gregashman.bsky.social @standehaene.bsky.social among others.

#EduSky

The Key to Motivating Students--and Maybe Everyone Else Too Students won’t learn unless they’re motivated. But the best way to motivate them is to enable them to experience achievement.

How do you motivate students (or anyone else)? Enable them to experience success.

How do you do that? Rely on principles of cognitive science to teach as clearly as possible.

More in my latest post on Minding the Gap:

open.substack.com/pub/nataliew...

A broad spectrum from talented artists & photographers to hate filled people who use belittling/denigration as commentary. To make my feed tolerable have muted words like Harris, Trump, Republican, Democrat -41 all up! Seems it’s only hate coming towards your in group, not going away from it.