Articles tagged with Learning
Researchers found that Israeli Arabs' biases towards their own group are stronger in Arabic than in Hebrew, suggesting language influences thought patterns. The study used the Implicit Association Test to measure biases in bilingual Arab Israelis.
A new study by University at Buffalo psychologist Michael Poulin and colleagues found that caregivers experience more positive emotions when engaging in 'active care', such as feeding and bathing their spouses. In contrast, passive care provokes negative emotions and fewer positive emotions.
A new study by MIT researchers has identified two distinct brain circuits involved in habitual learning. The dorsolateral and dorsomedial striatal circuits show different patterns of activity as rats learn to navigate a maze, with the dorsolateral circuit becoming more active with repetition and the dorsomedial circuit playing a key ro...
Researchers found that laptops can increase students' engagement, attentiveness, and participation when used to facilitate interactive discussions and activities. Students reported feeling more attentive and able to learn when using LectureTools.
Luis Saldanha, an ASU mathematics educator, has been awarded a $638,805 NSF Career Award to investigate the role of variability in teaching statistical thinking among middle school students. The research aims to improve instruction and make students more aware of statistics' importance in daily life.
Middle school students may struggle to understand science texts due to lack of academic language skills, but Word Generation program provides tools for teachers to guide them. The program teaches systematic vocabulary development and nuanced understanding of complex scientific concepts.
A University of Illinois professor argues that teaching young children to write without borrowing from popular culture is problematic and contradictory. She advocates for allowing children to copy or borrow plotlines, narratives, and characters from media stories to prepare them for a highly mediated world.
A new paper from NC State University outlines guidelines for developing partnerships between academics and local communities to address social issues. The study found that incorporating students into community-based research projects requires flexibility, student motivation, and faculty coordination.
A new approach to teaching agriculture in the classroom uses case studies to motivate students and inspire changes in attitude. The study found that engaging students with real-world examples improved their understanding and presentation skills, but some felt that more time was needed for discussions and activities.
The university's course, 'Kitchen Chemistry Sessions,' uses molecular gastronomy techniques to teach students about chemical and biochemical concepts in food. Students learn to apply these concepts to prepare meals, demonstrating their understanding of chemical processes and scientific principles.
The study found that students using their own laptops in a wireless classroom setting were more focused and took their work with them outside the class. Researchers plan to increase the number of classrooms with similar capabilities in the near future.
Researchers found that a midday nap significantly improves learning capacity by clearing the brain's short-term memory storage and making room for new information. This finding supports previous data on the negative effects of prolonged wakefulness and all-nighters on cognitive function.
Researchers found that daytime naps significantly aid infants' ability to generalize knowledge and recognize patterns in new information. The UA study revealed that napping within four hours after exposure to artificial language enhances abstract learning and sentence structure recognition in young children.
A recent study published in Learning and Instruction found that home literacy environments and motivation play a significant role in predicting children's initial literacy skills, which ultimately affect their future reading ability. Reading to kids regularly is essential for English-speaking children to acquire language skills.
Researchers at the University of Alberta designed materials that link mathematical concepts to real-world scenarios, such as disease transmission, to enhance learning. Students used these materials to calculate the West Nile virus's reproductive number, gaining a deeper understanding of math in science.
College students who practice retrieving knowledge through self-testing learn more effectively than those who rely on repetitive note reading. The key is not dropping flashcards once mastered, as retrieval fluency can create an illusion of learning.
A new study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that personality characteristics play a significant role in determining who succeeds in medical school. Conscientious individuals tend to excel in early years, while extraverted students perform better in later years as interpersonal skills become more important.
Interactive e-lessons developed by soil science educators engage learners with active learning strategies, interactive Flash animations, and experiential activities. These lessons aim to help students and the public recognize the critical importance of soil in addressing various issues.
Researchers found that sounds presented during naps could guide rehearsal of specific information, strengthening spatial memories. The study suggests that deep sleep is a key time for memory processing, challenging the idea that memories are only processed during REM sleep.
A new study found that foreign subtitles can enhance second-language listening ability, particularly when the subtitles are in the same language as the film. English subtitling was associated with improved recognition of both familiar and unfamiliar words, while Dutch subtitling reduced this effect on new materials.
A recent survey of ISU horticulture graduates reveals that they are adequately to exceptionally well-prepared for the workforce. Employers rank personal skills such as communication, professionalism, and teamwork highly, while solid technical skills take a backseat.
A book by Dennis Shirley and Elizabeth MacDonald offers a new approach to supporting teachers, drawing on small group discussions, journal writing, and meditation. The authors argue that mindfulness can help teachers lead themselves and their students to a more satisfactory classroom experience.
The university has established a new Q-STEP program, which provides support and resources to increase the graduation rate of students in science and math fields. The five-year grant aims to improve retention and success in these disciplines, with goals including increased group study opportunities and assigned academic advisors.
The Carnegie Mellon Mobile & Immersive Learning for Literacy in Emerging Economies (MILLEE) project will conduct a controlled study involving 800 children in 40 villages in Andhra Pradesh, India. The goal is to gauge the effectiveness of mobile phone-based games for teaching English lessons.
Researchers discovered that learning a new task alters the brain's spontaneous activity patterns, particularly in regions involved in attention and visual processing. This 'anti-correlation' between brain areas improves task performance and facilitates future skill retrieval.
K-State will expand its program for recruitment and retention of Latino students, including a new learning community and academic tracking system. The goal is to improve retention rates, reduce academic warning cases, and increase graduation rates among Hispanic students.
Research suggests that reading surreal literature like Kafka's 'The Country Doctor' can enhance implicit pattern learning and accuracy. Participants who read the nonsensical story performed better on an artificial-grammar task than those who read a rewritten version with a logical plot.
A Canadian report reveals that nearly a million students will fail to graduate high school due to poor reading skills. The study highlights the importance of literacy education and calls for increased support in junior and senior high schools.
A University of Illinois study found that high-school put-downs contribute to a hostile climate, where good students struggle to learn and those behind fall further behind. Verbal harassment is prevalent in schools, with 70% of students experiencing disruptions.
Melanie Cooper, a Clemson University professor, has been recognized as an American Chemical Society Fellow for her contributions to chemistry education and research. Her research focuses on developing effective ways for students to learn science, including evidence-driven curricula like Chemistry, Life, the Universe and Everything (CLUE).
Amanda Cobbs-Russell, a junior majoring in conservation biology at UC Riverside, is part of an international group trekking across Baffin Island. She will investigate the geology and climatology of the region, with a focus on the impact of climate change on the Canadian Arctic.
Researchers at the University of Haifa discovered that greater empathy for native speakers can lighten accents in a second language. The study also found a link between accent heaviness and sociopolitical position, particularly among Arabic speakers who hold differing sentiments towards the Hebrew-speaking majority group.
Research suggests that students cheat more when focused on grades and test scores. Experts recommend shifting the focus to learning and understanding, rather than just achieving high marks. By doing so, teachers can create a more conducive environment where cheating is less likely to occur.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis suggests that historically based blockbuster movies can be a double-edged sword when it comes to helping students learn and retain information. When film clips were consistent with textbook material, correct recall increased by 50%, but misinformation from the film led to false recall...
A study published in Critical Care found that 86% of nine-year-old students performed CPR correctly four months after receiving basic life support training. The researchers concluded that children's performance would improve over time with periodic retraining, and that CPR education can be effectively implemented in primary schools.
A study of nearly 160,000 students found that overconfident teens are often below-average readers globally, while under-confident students tend to perform better. Parents and teachers can help by promoting self-assessment, setting achievable goals, and encouraging peer evaluation.
A larger cortex is associated with greater intellectual capacity, according to new research. Cortical modules, vertical columns of interconnected neurons, vary in number and diversity across the cerebral cortex.
A randomized trial found that disclosing genetic risk information to adult children of patients with Alzheimer's disease did not result in significant short-term psychological distress. Participants who learned they were APOE ε4 negative experienced considerable relief, while those who learned they were APOE ε4 positive showed no more ...
A longitudinal study found that American teens are more academically disengaged than Chinese peers, with decreased motivation and mastery value over time. The study suggests a cultural difference in prioritizing learning for future success.
A recent study published in Medical Teacher found that medical students who participated in simulated medical emergencies showed improved knowledge retention compared to those who received traditional lectures. The simulation exercises helped students learn and apply basic science concepts more effectively.
Researchers found that brain initially stores improvements in one pathway before transferring to motor pathway for long-term storage. Young zebra finches learn to sing by mimicking their fathers' song and eventually master the syllables and rhythms through repeated practice.
The Virtual Dental Implant Training Simulation Program uses multiple patients and clinical scenarios to teach diagnostics, decision making, and treatment protocols. Research shows that healthcare providers who practice clinical skills via simulation have better patient outcomes than those who don't.
A study found that custom animations in PowerPoint lectures negatively impact student learning, requiring greater concentration and reducing exposure time. In contrast, static graphics are better retained by students.
A University of Missouri researcher recommends increasing repetition learning and reducing 'fun' activities in US schools to help bridge the gap between natural human learning abilities and modern knowledge needs. This approach can improve students' performance in subjects like science and math.
A three-year study by Tufts University aims to determine whether service-learning enhances engineering programs' appeal to students, particularly women. The research will investigate service-learning's impact on student motivation, self-efficacy, and confidence in their skills.
A Northwestern University study found that bilingual participants mastered nearly twice the number of words as monolinguals when learning an invented language. The research suggests that early exposure to two languages carries far-reaching benefits, making bilingual individuals better language learners in general.
A new study by University of Illinois professor Christy Lleras found that ability grouping in elementary school impairs the literacy of lower-grouped minority students, while having little effect on higher-grouped minority students. The practice creates larger achievement gaps among minority students and exacerbates inequality.
A new course at Ohio State University has been shown to increase the odds of college graduation for struggling first-year students, with those taking the class being 45% more likely to graduate within six years. The course teaches skills such as risk-taking and using feedback to improve academic performance.
Kansas State University is using a Second Life island called TerraWorld to help high school students learn geology through interactive simulations. Students can explore different time periods, complete quests and scavenger hunts, and interact with virtual role models.
Researchers found that teaching kids the underlying structure of math problems enhances their understanding and ability to solve them. This approach, known as conceptual instruction, enables students to explain the problem and its solutions on their own.
A study published in Science has provided molecular evidence for the theory of synaptic homeostasis, which suggests that sleep refreshes the brain by downscaling synapses. This process saves energy, space, and material, clearing away unnecessary proteins and 'noise' from the previous day.
Researchers found depressed individuals correctly identified more negative beans than non-depressed peers, but struggled with positive beans. The study suggests depressed people may have a bias against learning good information, which could impact treatment.
A University of Illinois study finds that public schools with certified teachers and a modern math curriculum outscore private schools. The researchers discovered that smaller class sizes, teacher certification, and instructional practices were key factors in achieving better math test scores for public school students.
Researchers develop a new general chemistry curriculum, CLUE, using the emergence and evolution of life as context for introducing chemistry concepts. The curriculum aims to improve students' problem-solving abilities and deepen their understanding of fundamental principles.
Researchers found that 10-month-old infants can use prior information to understand novel actions, but not when performed in a different location. The study suggests that providing advance information about a person's goals helps infants learn from another person's actions.
A collaborative research course taught at one university led to a global collaboration among faculty members from three universities, resulting in significant increases in communication skills and subject matter knowledge. Students reported improved understanding of how communication fits into collaborative problem-solving and anticipa...
A CU-Boulder study reveals that peer discussion during 'clicker' questions significantly improves students' learning outcomes, leading to better answers and higher grades. The researchers used a method to test whether students were genuinely learning or influenced by their peers.
A study by University of California, Santa Barbara psychologists found that starting with difficult problems can improve understanding of new material. Participants who began with harder problems were able to think abstractly and perform well on the task, whereas those who started with easy problems struggled with more complicated issues.
A computer model called Diag was developed to predict human behavior and learning in a circuit troubleshooting task. The model learned at the same rate as participants, replicating their strategy and solving problems accurately.
The Temporal Dynamics of Learning Center has received a $12 million NSF award to expand its research on the role of time and timing in learning. The center's unique collaboration with teachers and researchers aims to develop innovative programs that apply laboratory findings to the classroom.