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The Science of Learning

Karen Hornby, Rachel Jackson, Tim Jay, Matt Cornock, Paul Howard-Jones, Konstantina Ioannou, and Arwa Omar

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for teachers Teaching assistants, tutors and ITT may also benefit, though the course will be framed within teaching classroom contexts. You will need recent classroom experience to benefit from the reflective activities on this course. You can use the hashtag #FLSTEMScienceOfLearning to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Read more

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for teachers Teaching assistants, tutors and ITT may also benefit, though the course will be framed within teaching classroom contexts. You will need recent classroom experience to benefit from the reflective activities on this course. You can use the hashtag #FLSTEMScienceOfLearning to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

  • Learning to learn: introduction to the science of learning, busting myths and helping you use research to inform your classroom practice
  • Engagement for learning
  • Construction of learning
  • Consolidation of learning
  • Plasticity of the brain
  • Becoming an action researcher
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Reviews summary

Insightful science of learning for educators

According to students, 'The Science of Learning' is a highly valuable and well-structured course, particularly beneficial for educators. Learners commend the course for its clear explanations, which effectively debunk common myths about learning. Many found the content immediately applicable to their classroom practice, providing practical strategies based on scientific research. The instructor's engaging delivery and the focus on actionable insights are frequently highlighted as major strengths. While primarily targeting teachers, the principles are broad enough to be useful for anyone interested in effective learning.
Well-suited for educators, though broad appeal noted.
"As a teacher, I found this course incredibly relevant and tailored to my professional needs."
"While designed for teachers, the principles taught here are valuable for anyone seeking to improve their learning."
"It's perfect for anyone in education looking to deepen their understanding of how people learn."
Confirms and solidifies prior understanding of learning.
"This course reinforced a lot of what I already knew but provided the scientific backing."
"It provided a solid framework for my existing knowledge of learning processes."
"I found it to be a great refresher and a way to deepen my understanding of educational psychology."
The instructor's delivery enhances the learning experience.
"The instructor was fantastic, very knowledgeable, and made the content enjoyable."
"I found the teaching style of the lecturer to be very engaging and motivating."
"The course was really well taught; the instructor made it easy to connect with the material."
Successfully challenges misconceptions with scientific evidence.
"I appreciated how the course clearly busted many popular learning myths with solid scientific evidence."
"It was eye-opening to learn about evidence-based strategies rather than common misconceptions."
"This course really helped me differentiate between effective learning strategies and those that don't work based on research."
The material is presented clearly, making complex topics accessible.
"The lectures were incredibly clear and well-organized, making it easy to grasp complex concepts."
"I found the explanations of learning theories to be very engaging and easy to understand."
"The course content was presented in a way that kept me interested and focused throughout."
Provides actionable strategies directly applicable to teaching.
"This course provided me with practical strategies that I could immediately apply in my classroom."
"I loved how the content was geared towards teachers and offered concrete ideas for my daily practice."
"It truly helped me enhance my teaching methods and understand student learning better."

Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for The Science of Learning. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete The Science of Learning will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

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Time
15 hours
Via
FutureLearn
Institution
National STEM Learning Centre
Instructors
Karen Hornby
Rachel Jackson
Tim Jay
Matt Cornock
Paul Howard-Jones
Konstantina Ioannou
Arwa Omar
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