Centre for Educational Measurement & Assessment (CEMA) The University of Sydney’s Post

🎊 New publication 🎊 Curious about how to encourage students to engage in effortful yet effective learning strategies? Check out our latest study published in Learning and Instruction! In this study, we developed a taxonomy for instructional tools designed to promote students' self-regulated use of effective learning strategies. We then empirically tested the efficacy of a combination of theory-based and technology-enhanced experience-based tools. Once again, we demonstrate that students are willing to put in extra effort once their knowledge gaps are closed. While technology-enriched tools may serve valuable, a strong knowledge base remains essential. Read more: https://lnkd.in/emrtibSX On a personal note, this article taught me a lot about the peer review process. The reviews on the original manuscript were tough but highly constructive, and addressing their points took a long time. However, their feedback significantly improved the paper, and I couldn't appreciate them more. Finally, kudos to my team. Felicitas Biwer, Wisnu Wiradhany, and Anique de Bruin. This would not possible without their support and input.

Are you interested in innovative teaching methods that enhance critical thinking and collaboration among students? Check out our latest article on Problem-Based Learning (PBL)! Discover the crucial role of teachers, the benefits for students, and the practical challenges involved, complete with a real-world example from a science class. Dive into the full article and unlock new educational strategies #EducationInnovation #ProblemBased https://lnkd.in/dHkFJv8s

Improving the quality of Australia’s teaching workforce and lifting student outcomes can be achieved when teachers are equipped with ‘the science of learning’, a new paper says. Read the article: https://bit.ly/4bG8DsB Interested in the science of learning? Unlock the power of metacognition with the Learning Blueprint. Find out more: https://bit.ly/4bK73pK

Here are 7 key lessons from the book "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel T. Willingham: 1. Myth of Multitasking: The brain is not designed for multitasking. When students try to juggle multiple tasks, like listening to a lecture and texting, they retain less information. 2. Working Memory Bottleneck: Our working memory has limited capacity. Teachers should present information in manageable chunks to avoid overloading students' working memory. 3. Active Engagement for Learning: Students learn best when they actively engage with the material, not just passively receive information. This means incorporating activities like discussions, problem-solving, and hands-on learning. 4. Importance of Background Knowledge: New information is built on existing knowledge. Teachers need to assess students' prior knowledge and fill in any gaps before introducing new concepts. 5. Retrieval Practice Strengthens Memory: Recalling information from memory, through activities like quizzes and practice tests, strengthens learning and improves long-term retention compared to rereading material. 6. Spacing Out Learning: Distributing learning over time, with spaced repetition, is more effective than cramming information all at once. Spaced practice allows for deeper understanding and better recall. 7. Making Learning Relevant: Students are more motivated to learn when they see the relevance of the material to their lives. Teachers can connect concepts to real-world applications and students' interests.

🎥 The Science of Learning: Key Takeaways from Patrice Baines' Presentation 🧠 Hey everyone! I just finished watching Patrice Baines' talk on the science of learning, and I had to share some insights with you! 🌟 What stood out? Patricia's reminder that "just because you see it doesn’t mean you know it." 🤯 Think about your phone’s home screen—can you name every app on your second screen? We see them all the time, but that doesn’t mean we know them! For educators, understanding the science of learning is essential. The reality is, giving students a study guide two days before an exam is not enough! We need to teach them the right strategies and the importance of early, consistent studying. 📝 Patricia’s talk ties it all back to executive functions, especially working memory, which is the number one predictor of academic success. Did you know we can only hold about 4 to 7 things in our working memory at once? 🧠 And let’s not forget about metacognition—a critical cognitive skill that’s often discussed alongside executive functions. Patricia shares four steps to mastering metacognition in the full session, available with the all-access pass. 🎟️ If you haven't grabbed your pass yet, do it now! This is invaluable info for every educator!

Activity-Based Learning Vs Theory-Based Learning. What is more effective? According to my learning, education has long remained focused on theory-based learning, where students learn through lectures, textbooks and exams. Reflecting on my experience, much of my education was built around these methods and I was fortunate to have teachers who made theory memorable and impactful as well as tried to create ABL throughout the year. The Crux of my learning so far, 👉 focus on activity-based learning Why?!! 👉It changes the classroom environment and helps in exploring new methods and practical problem-solving. 👉It also makes the subject matter relevant. I'm sharing an amazing strategy, which may help you in your lesson planning. https://lnkd.in/dxSkwV4N How can balancing theory with activity-based learning make education more engaging and meaningful for students?

This article considers the teaching and learning methodologies of the  Big Picture Learning Design, and explores how aspects of both Explicit Teaching and Inquiry Learning interact within the design to produce learning that is highly engaging, deeply meaningful and of an appropriate pace and cognitive load to suit the diverse needs of high school students. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gZ6h4dnR

The importance of PBL whilst implementing Structured Literacy. Just like the theory underpinning Structured Literacy, you also need theory to underpin how the classroom noise and processes are developed and monitored. Learning requires sound maintenace in the classroom. https://lnkd.in/g6SSTXdD

Tailoring and customizing instruction to better meet the diverse needs of students is one way to use data in your classroom. More: http://spr.ly/6005lTei9

Ever wondered how Educators craft their teaching and learning resources? Creating learning resources is not just about throwing together a PowerPoint presentation or finding a few worksheets online. It involves understanding curriculum standards, aligning materials with learning objectives, and considering the varied learning styles of students. This process can be incredibly time-consuming. According to various studies, teachers often spend hours outside of classroom instruction developing these resources—sometimes even more than they spend on actual teaching! The Impact of Time Investment When educators invest time in crafting tailored learning materials, the benefits are manifold. Research shows that well-designed resources can lead to improved student engagement and better academic outcomes.