🏫 How is cognitive science used in education?

Cognitive science in education can help educators and learners foster a conducive learning experience, especially in terms of acquiring and retaining new information and skills through long-term memory.

👨🏫What are some examples of cognitive science principles that teachers can use in the classroom?

Some examples of cognitive science principles that teachers can use include: <ul> <li>Cognitive load theory </li> <li>Retrieval practice</li> <li>Interleaving</li> <li>Metacognition</li> </ul>

How Cognitive Science in Education Improves Learning

Memory and creativity are essential to education, but if you teach memory incorrectly, it is a total waste of time, and it will inhibit learning.
Tony Buzan

Having good memory and creativity is more than just cognitive science traits, but they are also significant building blocks for an effective and engaging learning experience. Having said that, memory and creativity can be cultivated through cognitive science principles, especially in teaching and learning. In this article, we'll be discussing the impact of cognitive science in education in classroom learning.

Cognitive science principles in education	Overview
Cognitive Load Theory	A theory that explains the mental load that the brain experiences when processing new information. There are three types of cognitive loads: intrinsic load, extraneous load, and germane load.
Retrieval Practice	A process of actively recalling information from the brain with minimal cues to foster long-term memory.
Interleaving	A learning technique that mixes different learning topics to help learners make connections between them to retain them better.
Metacognition	A cognitive process with intention and reflection in mind, to build awareness of our knowledge and what to do with the knowledge we have to foster effective learning.

The best Psychology tutors available

💭 What is Cognitive Science?

Cognitive science is an important field that explains how our brain works, especially through various cognitive processes such as attention, perception, thinking, language processing, and, of course, memory — all of which play significant roles in learning new things and understanding our surroundings.

Attention: Ability to focus on a stimulus and respond to it

Perception: Ability to interpret sensory information and identify recurring patterns

Thinking: Process of considering, questioning, problem-solving, and decision-making

Language processing: Ability to acquire, process, and produce written and spoken language

Memory: Ability to store and recall information through short-term and long-term memory

📚 Why It Matters In the Classroom

For many of us, the primary way we process and learn new information, both knowledge and skills, begins in the classroom. That's why many cognitive science approaches are being used to shape many classroom practices, learning techniques, and even education policies globally ¹.

When cognitive science is naturally integrated into different education levels (in fact, the earlier, the better), it can help students engage and retain information better, especially through exposure to various effective memorisation techniques.

A classroom scene with students engaged in a lesson about cancer, raising hands, and a teacher writing on a chalkboard. — The application of cognitive science in education is known to have a positive impact on student learning. Photo by National Cancer Institute

Before going deeper into the theoretical principles of cognitive science in education, we should also be aware of some misconceptions or common mistakes that may arise when we try to implement them practically, such as the following:

Focusing too much on one aspect of a theory/
learning technique

Lack of guidance and follow-up on actual implementation

Only using one type of theory for all kinds of learning needs and goals

The best Psychology tutors available

🪄 Principles & Applications of Cognitive Science in Learning

Now, let's examine the various principles of cognitive science in terms of their key concepts and classroom applications.

⏳ Cognitive Load Theory

Cognitive Load Theory was developed by Australian psychologist John Sweller to explain the limitations of our working memory when it is overwhelmed by excessive cognitive (mental) load in processing and storing new information. To understand cognitive load theory better, we have to explore the significance of the three types of cognitive loads that could influence the learning experience:

Intrinsic load: The original difficulty level of processing new information
Extraneous load: Unnecessary difficulty/effort needed to process new information
Germane load: The mental effort used to connect and link ideas and information to store them in long-term memory

Application of cognitive load theory principles

📍Identify the intrinsic load of a learning topic for students (suitable difficulty level)
📍Reduce the extraneous load of the learning topic by breaking it down into simple steps and explanations (easy to absorb)
📍Promote germane load through relevant examples and engaging visuals of the topics (easy to retain and connect)

⏳ Retrieval Practice

Next, let's look at retrieval practice. It is a process of actively recalling targeted information from your memory with minimal assistance, especially long-term memory, and is seen as a test of effective learning. The more you actively engage in retrieval practice, the more you activate the neural pathways in your brain that are connected to that particular information.

Additionally, this learning technique is often paired with spaced repetition, where you actively retrieve what you have learnt in a spaced interval (like after 2 days, 5 days, 1 week and so forth) to have a consistent revision routine to boost long-term memory.

For instance, after watching a tutorial on a new history topic, you might try to recall what you’ve learned by writing it down on a blank sheet of paper or your notebook, regardless of whether your answers are correct or not.

Then, you can do it consistently for every new topic or the same topic over a spaced interval.

A hand holding a pen writes on a grid-patterned notebook page, filled with handwritten notes in a black and white setting. — Retrieval practice is often used as both a memorisation strategy and self-testing method. Photo by Nedim T.

Application of key retrieval practice principles

📍Using some cues to trigger memory, such as flashcards, acronyms, or mnemonic devices
📍Attempting low-stakes quizzes (identify knowledge gaps)
📍Teaching someone about the topic you've learned

⏳ Interleaving

Another popular cognitive science theory that is often combined with other learning techniques is interleaving. It is the practice of mixing different but related learning topics instead of focusing on a single topic in one sitting.

When you integrate different learning topics and even formats in your revision, you can solidify deep comprehension beyond memorisation. That's because you are training your brain to recall, connect what you have learnt engagingly. You are more likely to focus better and engage in critical thinking when you're reviewing interrelated topics.

Application of key interleaving principles

📍Promote better attention span as there's more variety when reviewing learning topics
📍Helps to enhance long-term retention through comparison (similarities and differences of concepts, for example)
📍Trains adaptability to solve different problems through different methods/outlooks (different math questions, for instance)

⏳ Metacognition

Last but not least, we'll have to talk about metacognition, which is the process of being aware of your own thinking. Metacognition consists of two main parts: your own awareness of what you already know (metacognitive knowledge) and the actions needed to make learning effective (metacognitive regulation). The three types of metacognitive knowledge are as follows:

A single yellow puzzle piece is positioned above an empty space on a white, scattered puzzle board. — Metacognition is a great way to strengthen long-term memory. Photo by Ann H

Declarative knowledge (recognise what works/ doesn't work)
Procedural knowledge (how to apply the knowledge that works)
Conditional knowledge (aptly apply the right knowledge at the right time for the right purpose)

On the other hand, the three stages of metacognitive regulation are planning, monitoring, and evaluating.

Application of key metacognition principles

📍Constantly reflecting and reviewing your learning techniques across different subjects
📍Be open to changes and adaptations for efficiency and effectiveness
📍Come out with a systematic goal based on your reflections

🚀 Practical Strategies For Students and Educators

Now, let's look at how both students and educators can apply various practical cognitive science strategies for everyday learning and teaching practice ² for the following four principles:

Students: Reduce cognitive load

Focus on step-by-step instructions and review the summarised information of learning topics with relevant examples

Educators: Reduce cognitive load

Break lessons into smaller units instead of chunking them together, and avoid unnecessary texts and visuals in learning materials

Students: Apply retrieval practice

Participate actively in various self-testing methods to identify knowledge gaps and also the comprehension level
Consistently revisiting the learning materials

Educators: Apply retrieval practice

Conduct short and fun quizzes and pair discussions to encourage active recall and retrieval after teaching a new topic
Asks students to summarise and revise past topics

Students: Foster interleaving

Practice a variety of sets of questions in terms of topics and formats (objective and subjective questions)
Avoid cramming and develop a habit of seeing the bigger picture and connections

Educators: Foster interleaving

Blend different sub-topics and core skills when teaching and designing homework for a solid cumulative practice
Encourage students to compare and transfer knowledge

Students: Activate metacognition

Adopt a self-assessment checklist through the metacognitive regulation steps: planning, monitoring, and evaluating when learning something new

Educators: Activate metacognition

Model a consistent metacognition routine in the classroom through self-reflection questions on the learning process, and also what students feel about what worked/ didn't

💡 Benefits and Challenges

If both students and educators truly commit to implementing these cognitive science strategies, there will certainly be many benefits. For students, they will certainly benefit from these memorisation techniques to have better and longer retention of new knowledge and skills.

As they improve their memory and acquire knowledge, they would also gain confidence and more motivation in learning, regardless of their learning age and goals ³. On the other hand, educators would also learn how to plan their lessons more effectively in terms of teaching materials and methodology, particularly before, during, and after their lessons.

For example, an educator who is well-versed in metacognition would encourage students to share their feedback about what they have learnt in terms of the effectiveness of the teaching method, and also their overall comprehension of learning topics.

Of course, we cannot ignore the challenges that may arise as a result of implementing these cognitive science strategies. Granted that classroom learning is full of unpredictability with students of different learning preferences, learning pace, and even subjects, which may pose different cognitive loads to different students, it takes lots of creativity and adaptability to implement these strategies to achieve the best outcomes. For example, some students may prefer the blocking method to master a new topic before trying out interleaving to learn other sub-topics.

Two people engage in a discussion at a table filled with papers and an open book, with a glass of water nearby. Artistic background visible. — Regardless of your city and learning level, you can always find an experienced and qualified tutor at Superprof. Photo by MART PRODUCTION

To learn more about the significance of cognitive science in education, you can always connect with an experienced psychology tutor to master them to implement them in classroom learning, whether you are an educator or a student.

At Superprof, you can enjoy personalised one-to-one psychology tutoring regardless of your learning level and topics. Just head to the Superprof UK homepage to start browsing the tutors' profiles and review their essential information, from their teaching experience, current location, qualifications, teaching specialisation, methodology, past students' reviews, and also their hourly rates.

Once you have decided, you can book your first lesson with your desired tutor via the messaging feature on their respective profile. The best news is 97% of Superprof offer their first lesson for free, so it's a great opportunity to learn with ease! Have fun exploring the world of cognitive science and psychology!