Articles tagged with Learning
A US-Asian teaching gap exists in math instruction, with US teachers utilizing fewer spatial supports and gestures that encourage active reasoning compared to Hong Kong and Japan. This could contribute to lower US student performance on international math tests.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have received a four-year, $2 million award to continue development of the ASSISTment intelligent tutoring system. The system will provide teachers and parents with immediate feedback on student performance, helping them offer individualized instruction and track student progress over time.
Researchers found that taking breaks from studies, including getting a good night's sleep, enhances relational memory and 'big picture' inferences. This 'off-line' processing period allows the brain to unconsciously mull over information, leading to improved performance on complex tasks.
Researchers found that sleep enforces the temporal sequence in memories by replaying experiences in a forward direction. This process enhances word recall when students were asked to reproduce learned words in the correct order.
Researchers found that adults exhibit a 'curse-of-knowledge bias' when reasoning about false beliefs, with their own knowledge influencing their ability to reason. Additionally, age affects false memory development, with children showing improved performance at older ages. The study also discovered a circadian rhythm in central process...
A study by the University of Virginia found that only a small percentage of elementary school classrooms provide high-quality instruction, leading to mediocre student outcomes. High-quality teaching involves active learning environments, teacher-student interaction, and emotional support, but is often lacking in US schools.
Researchers found that 18-month-old toddlers listen and watch emotional reactions directed by one adult to another, then use this emotional information to shape their own behavior. The study indicates infants understand other people's emotional states at a very young age.
A study found that temporary inhibition of native language words helps learners focus on the new language. Fluently bilingual speakers were less prone to this effect, suggesting it's an adaptive strategy during initial second language learning stages.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks has received a $1.3 million federal grant to create a graduate-level training program in second-language acquisition, focusing on the Yupik language. The program aims to provide K-12 teachers with tools to increase fluency and address second-language issues in the classroom.
A new study finds that publicly schooled kindergarteners outperform privately schooled peers in terms of learning gains, contrary to expectations. The research suggests that instituting all-day kindergarten could help narrow the achievement gap between public and private schools.
Researchers at Tufts University are developing a new curriculum that combines engineering with basic science to improve student engagement and understanding. The curriculum, funded by the National Science Foundation, will be tested in Boston-area elementary schools over the next five years.
A recent study published in the Canadian Journal of Surgery found that many medical school graduates in Canada lack proficiency in basic surgical skills such as suturing and tube placements. The researchers surveyed 123 recent graduates and 55 surgeons, revealing a significant gap between expected and actual skill levels.
A new study by the University of Illinois found that faith-based youth groups provide the highest rates of personal and interpersonal growth experiences for teens, compared to sports, performance and fine arts groups, academic clubs, and community-oriented activities. The study surveyed over 2,000 eleventh graders and found that teens ...
A new program in Ohio State University's phys ed class encourages students to plan their own exercise routines, leading to a significant increase in physical activity outside of school. Nearly half of students were inactive before the program, but after participation, over 90% became more active.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Professor Larry Duffy has been awarded a National Science Foundation grant to develop a new polar science education course. The two-year project will help increase students' and the public's understanding of polar science through an interdisciplinary approach.
The Federation of American Scientists has developed a new educational video game called Immune Attack, which engages students in learning about immunology concepts. The game features a first-person strategy game where immune cells face off against bacterial and viral infections, aiming to make learning fun and exciting.
Teachers from Alaska, Canada, France, Germany, Russia, Sweden, and England participate in a 33-day polar research expedition to collect data on atmospheric measurements, ice cores, and ocean systems. The expedition aims to better understand the impact of anomalous warm Atlantic water on Arctic Ocean temperatures.
Research by Professor Mary James and the Teaching and Learning Research Programme found that teachers are unhappy with the pressures of high-stakes exams and tests, which prioritize targets over teaching for learning. Only 20% of teachers felt able to put effective teaching for learning before meeting performance targets.
A new study found that frequent naps in infants improve their ability to learn abstract concepts and generalize knowledge to new phrases. The research, published in Psychological Science, suggests that sleep plays a crucial role in cognitive development.
Biomedical engineers at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered a new learning strategy called categorical adaptation, which suggests that learning does not necessarily scale proportionally with error size.
Researchers found that novelty activates brain's midbrain region, regulating motivation and dopamine release. Combining new facts with familiar information improves memory recall, even after a delay.
A study by UCLA psychologists found that multi-tasking impairs the ability to learn new information, especially in tasks requiring attention and declarative memory. The researchers used fMRI to examine brain activity and found that multi-tasking disrupts the hippocampus, a critical region for learning and memory.
A recent study at the University of Southern California found that motivated students excel in Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS), while disengaged students surprisingly show high levels of learning-oriented behavior. The research suggests that ITS can reach struggling students through private learning opportunities, and future models ...
A study found that when participants shared negative attitudes about someone else, they felt closer to a stranger with the same dislike. In contrast, those who learned they shared positive attitudes with another person felt less connected. This research challenges traditional views of gossip and its impact on relationships.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is testing wearable sensor systems at the US Army Aberdeen Test Center. The sensors aim to capture data such as vehicle sound, images, speech, and specific types of weapon fire, which will be compared to soldiers' after-action reports.
A joint study between Dr. Spencer Behmer and researchers at the University of Oxford found that locusts preferred odors associated with a deprived state, even when well-fed. This suggests that physical state plays a significant role in learning and decision-making for these insects.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic are testing a revolutionary classroom concept that promotes increased physical activity among children, using advanced technologies such as standing desks and wearable devices. The goal is to prevent childhood obesity by encouraging kids to move more during learning.
Researchers found that students who self-test frequently while studying on their own perform better in retention tests compared to those who study the material repeatedly. This phenomenon is known as the testing effect, which enhances long-term retention through a mechanism different from restudy alone.
A Washington University partnership created a data analysis course for urban high school students, raising cognitive demand and improving math and science test scores. The pilot study found that quizzes were not a harmful activity and may be an effective teaching tool.
A Dartmouth study reveals that the brain's parietal cortex plays a crucial role in understanding the goals of other people's actions. This finding has implications for our understanding of human social interactions and may help explain impaired social behaviors in individuals with autism.
Florida Institute of Technology is developing an interactive tutoring system to improve student competency in statistics and problem-solving skills. The software will be available in English and Spanish versions to reach a more diverse audience.
A study by cognitive psychologists Helga Noice and Tony Noice found that actors acquire lines quickly by focusing on the character's intention, rather than just memorizing the words. This 'active experiencing' principle is effective not only for actors but also for improving memory and cognition in older adults.
A nursing professor is calling for a total review of the nursing education system to address the 'reality gap' between theory and practice. The professor believes that sufficient funding and modernized practice learning requirements are needed to bridge this gap.
Professors Jung Oh and Judith Collins from Kansas State University presented their information literacy instruction project at the American Chemical Society Meeting. The project focuses on teaching students to evaluate information sources critically and apply these skills in various academic disciplines.
Dr. Irene Pepperberg's research shows an African grey parrot, Alex, understands the absence of a numerical quantity by using the label 'none', challenging current understanding of avian cognition. This discovery also holds potential for teaching autistic and learning-disabled children
A team of four Johns Hopkins University students adapted a tractor for use by people with disabilities, including those who are paraplegic. The modifications included a hydraulic lift, hand-controlled throttle, and mechanical device to enable drivers without disabilities to operate the tractor.
A three-year course in the stock market and investing resulted in improved attendance and academic performance among at-risk middle school students. The program, which allowed students to buy shares of stock by improving their grades and attendance, showed statistically significant gains in vocabulary, reading comprehension, and applie...
A Carnegie Mellon study reveals that infant-directed speech aids infants in learning words more quickly than normal adult speech. This research also sheds light on why adults struggle to learn a second language, as they can use their native tongue effortlessly.
A study by Boston College and UMass found that students' MCAS English/Language Arts exam scores improved when they used computers to write papers for school, but decreased with recreational computer use. The study controlled for home learning environments and teacher practices.
According to psychologist Roese, regrets serve a necessary psychological purpose and provide benchmarks for reality. He suggests that acknowledging counterfactuals and their impact on human cognition can lead to hope for the future and corrective action.
A study by Rachel Herz at Brown University found that responses to new odors depend on emotions experienced while the odor was present. Participants who played a game and watched a film clip rated the new scent as enjoyable and familiar, whereas those who played a frustrating game rated it as unpleasant.
A study found that stereotype-vulnerable black participants predicted their abilities less accurately and experienced fluctuating self-efficacy, highlighting the fragility of academic perceptions. This uncertainty can lead to unrealistic optimism and decreased motivation in the face of prejudice.
A recent study at McMaster University reveals that fitness experts can significantly increase self-confidence in beginner exercisers. By setting and achieving specific goals, individuals experience increased motivation and confidence in their abilities.
Two Williams students, Nathan Hodas and Gerke, have won the prestigious Apker Award in physics, showcasing their exceptional academic records and research potential. The college's emphasis on student-faculty research has been credited with producing high-caliber physics majors.
Aging can erode memory control while preserving learned behavior. New research finds that past habits become stronger in memory than new intentions, explaining why older adults struggle to learn and maintain new behaviors.
Dr. John Deaton, a renowned human factors specialist, has developedVECTOR, an interactive video game to teach cultural skills for U.S. peacekeepers. The game simulates real-life scenarios, enabling trainees to learn appropriate behavior in diverse situations.
The MIT 'Weird Fields' contest utilizes creative visuals to help students grasp abstract electromagnetism concepts. By exploring vector fields through interactive software, students can better comprehend the physics behind electromagnetic forces.
The AAAS symposium features educators and authors using popular culture to make physics accessible. Chemical physicist Catherine Asaro uses romance novels infused with quantum physics, while Professor James Kakalios illustrates physics principles through superhero comics.
The Assistment system, developed using Carnegie Mellon's Cognitive Tutor technology, provides individualized tutoring and adapts to students' knowledge gaps. The system aims to improve student performance on standardized tests in Massachusetts and beyond.
A study found distinct differences in symptoms, counseling skills, and procedures encountered by medical students in academic medical center clinics (AMCs), affiliated residency teaching sites (ARTs), and community-based practices (CBPs). Students reported varying levels of teaching and learning experiences across settings.
The project aims to design exercises that help students develop mathematical descriptions of the natural world, applying statistical concepts to understand variation in plant growth. Researchers will also study statistical consultants in practice and develop technologies to support learning.
Researchers at UCF are studying different learning techniques to train people to pick out guns, knives and other threatening objects as they pass through airport X-ray machines. The goal is to make screeners more accurate and faster, leading to improved safety and convenience for travelers.
A study by Ohio State University found that students taking a psychology-based study skills program had higher grade point averages and were more likely to return for their next year of college. The course used well-founded psychological principles to teach students how to put motivation and learning techniques into practice.
A Hong Kong study found that music instruction aids verbal memory, with trained students recalling significantly more words and retaining them longer than untrained peers. Verbal learning performance improved in proportion to musical training duration.
Researchers found that active involvement in forming an idea, known as generative learning, reduces false memory. Participants were more likely to accurately remember words from a list they created themselves than those presented by others.
Research by Bauke Milo found that threading strategy helps children with learning difficulties master basic arithmetic operations up to 100. Children who adapted their strategies or used the threading method made fewer mistakes than those using the splitting strategy.
Researchers found that infants as young as 6.5 months can recognize word boundaries by identifying sound patterns in speech. As they mature, they rely on stressed syllables to determine word ends and begin. The study provides insight into how humans acquire language.
Researchers at Tufts University found that 1-year-olds can pick up on emotional signals from TV and make decisions based on them. Infants as young as 12 months old are able to use information from televised emotional reactions to guide their interactions.
A Rutgers University study shows that Prozac treatment preserves female learning ability even under stress. Chronic Prozac treatment was found to be effective in protecting females from the negative effects of stressful experiences on learning. The researchers also found that males and females respond differently to stressful experiences.
Weaves technology enables scalable network emulation, allowing for large-scale testing without requiring software rewrites. The system creates a virtual world to mimic real-world conditions, ensuring equivalence between test and actual results.