We continue our series with The Learning Scientists on this episode of 3Ps in a Pod. Today, hosts Josh and Paula talk with Dr. Althea Need Kaminske and Dr. Megan Sumeracki about working memory and perception.

Dr. Sumeracki and Dr. Kaminske give multiple examples demonstrating how background knowledge shapes your perception and what that means for how we communicate or give instructions to students or anyone else in our lives.

The Learning Scientists also discuss the processes of moving from learning to applying concepts and what that looks like for both students and for pre-service teachers moving into the day-to-day of teaching. They then discuss what it is to pay attention, how that connects with short-term and long-term memory, and how mind wandering can actually be helpful in learning and creating memory.

The group also begins to talk about strategies that truly support how cognition actually works. Dr. Kaminske talks specifically about note-taking and how quality note-taking that supports actual learning requires a slowed down lecture, for example, or taking the time when reading a textbook to not just rewrite statements but to process and structure the information in their own way. They also discuss the idea of active learning.

In the next episode, Dr. Sumeracki and Dr. Kaminske build off of this conversation and discuss more strategies and interventions you can apply that support the cognitive processes discussed in this episode.

Learn more about the Learning Scientists at learningscientists.org, and learn more about the Arizona K12 Center at azk12.org.