What is learning?
Learning is a complex process that’s dependent upon several factors including the learner’s physiological and psychological state, societal variables, and teaching methodology. This section will provide a simplified overview of the neurobiology of learning as well as sources for where you can learn more.
the process of learning
working memory
Information can be gathered from the surrounding environment through activities such as observing, reading, listening, or a combination of these. When the learner turns their attention to information from their surrounding environment, this information is brought into what is called the “working memory” of the brain. The working memory of the brain temporarily stores a limited amount of information through short-term activation of neurons.
Long term memory
In contrast, long-term memory is more stable and stores more information for longer periods of time. Learning can be conceptualized as the transmission of information from the working memory into long-term memory. To effectively remember information, the learner must then practice retrieving it from the long-term memory in order to reinforce the pathways in the brain that maintain the information. This cyclical process of recalling stored information helps engrain the knowledge and prevent it from being forgotten.
did you know?
In the late 1800’s, psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus defined what is known as “Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve”, which mathematically describes the relationship between retention of material and time since learning. His results, which have since been replicated (Murre and Drois 2015), demonstrate that a considerable amount of information is lost within a few hours of when it was learned. Thus, one of the biggest challenges as an instructor is to identify ways for students to learn new information, practice retrieving that information, and minimize forgetting. Retrieval practice is a common and easy-to-implement teaching practice that uses the science of learning to improve retention of information and develop students’ metacognitive skills. To learn about other well-established methods based on the science of learning, explore the resources on The Learning Scientists webpage.