“Asking students to predict and retrieve or self‐explain won’t get them very far in their learning if they truly don’t care about the course material or if they believe that they are incapable of learning from it”

James Lang proposes that educators can significantly improve student learning by making small, research-backed changes to their teaching methods.He focuses on practical applications from cognitive science that don't overwhelm with complex theories. 3 main areas of focus:<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Memorisation - students must bear in mind things before they can put them in order</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Understanding - increase comprehension and acquisition of complex cognitive skills </li><li class="ql-align-justify">Motivation - getting excited about the topic</li></ol>

Small Teachings Framework

Developing student motivation is crucial for academic success. Here are some tips to keep students motivated:<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Arrive early to class to establish a connection with students</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Remind students of the bigger picture and why the course is important</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Show enthusiasm and passion for the subject</li></ol>

Hacks for Student Motivation

Small tweaks can. provide the conditions in class for students to actively retrieve information that they have encountered previously:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Stopping mid way to ask students for predictions: "What do you think happens next"</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Frequent low stakes quizzing. Stopping from time to time to ask question witthout making it seem like a test.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Having students summarize the main points of the class</li></ul>

Hacks for Understanding

Lang suggests polling students about their prior knowledge of subjects. This strengthens memory and understanding:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Before introducing a new concept, ask students what they already know about it.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Have students make mental maps together.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Make connections to real-world applications.</li></ul>

James Lang is an educator who proposes tactical changes in class to improve the performance of his students. 

Employ cognitive theory in the classroom every day Research into how we learn has opened the door for utilizing cognitive theory to facilitate better student learning. But that's easier said than done. Many books about cognitive theory introduce radical but impractical theories, failing to make the connection to the classroom. In Small Teaching, James Lang presents a strategy for improving student learning with a series of modest but powerful changes that make a big difference—many of which can be put into practice in a single class period. These strategies are designed to bridge the chasm between primary research and the classroom environment in a way that can be implemented by any faculty in any discipline, and even integrated into pre-existing teaching techniques. Learn, for example: <ul> <li>How does one become good at retrieving knowledge from memory?</li> <li>How does making predictions now help us learn in the future?</li> <li>How do instructors instill fixed or growth mindsets in their students?</li> </ul> Each chapter introduces a basic concept in cognitive theory, explains when and how it should be employed, and provides firm examples of how the intervention has been or could be used in a variety of disciplines. Small teaching techniques include brief classroom or online learning activities, one-time interventions, and small modifications in course design or communication with students.

Hacks for Understanding

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