Design for How People Learn
A guide to designing effective learning experiences by understanding the brain.
Summary of 6 Key Points
Key Points
- Foundations of learning and brain science
- How we remember and forget information
- Role of practice and feedback
- Creating ‘need to know’ experiences
- Designing for knowledge, skills, and motivation
- Understanding and designing for complex skills
key point 1 of 6
Foundations of learning and brain science
The perspective of foundations of learning and brain science is intricately intertwined with our cognitive processes. The brain, a complex organ with countless neurons and synapses, is the key player in learning. It forms new connections and strengthens existing ones each time we learn something new, demonstrating the brain’s miraculous plasticity. This process of neural networking forms the basis of learning and memory, making the brain a dynamic entity constantly adapting to new information…Read&Listen More
key point 2 of 6
How we remember and forget information
Our ability to remember information is related to the method of encoding. When we learn something new, our brains form a pattern of connections between neurons. This pattern, called an engram, is a physical representation of the knowledge. The stronger the engram, the easier it is for us to recall the information. Strengthening this pattern requires reinforcement through repetition and usage. Encoding through multiple channels, such as visual, auditory, and tactile, can also improve memory retention…Read&Listen More
key point 3 of 6
Role of practice and feedback
The role of practice in learning is paramount. It plays the pivotal function of internalizing knowledge and transforming it into a skill. With consistent practice, the learner can further enhance their proficiency in a particular skill or task. Practice isn’t merely about repetition, it also involves a process of trying, failing, adjusting, and improving. It aids learners in creating a mental model, thus, enabling them to predict outcomes based on their understanding…Read&Listen More
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Creating ‘need to know’ experiences
In the process of creating ‘need to know’ experiences, the emphasis is placed on effectively conveying the importance and necessity of the knowledge or skills being imparted. This essentially involves creating a context or situation where the learner feels a natural compulsion or motivation to acquire the knowledge or skills necessary to progress or succeed. The ‘need to know’ experience is not forced or imposed, but rather arises organically from the context of the learning situation…Read&Listen More
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Designing for knowledge, skills, and motivation
Designing for knowledge in the context of learning refers to creating learning experiences that help learners understand the content. This involves making the content relevant to the learners, enabling them to relate it to their existing knowledge. It includes the use of examples, analogies, and other instructional strategies that can help learners make connections between new and existing knowledge. Furthermore, it is crucial to present the content in a clear and organized manner, taking into consideration the cognitive load of the learners…Read&Listen More
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Understanding and designing for complex skills
Understanding and designing for complex skills involves recognizing that learners are not blank slates. Instead, they come with pre-existing knowledge, which can both help and hinder in the learning of new complex skills. The process is not about filling a void but rather about modifying and extending what is already there. This includes recognizing and dealing with misconceptions, which are often deeply ingrained and can be barriers to understanding new information…Read&Listen More