GUEST POST: Using Colors, Images and Cartoons to Support Learning
References: (1) Mayer, R. E. (2001). Multimedia learning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (2) Heidig, S., Müller, J., & Reichelt, M. (2015). Emotional design in multimedia learning: Differentiation on relevant design features and their effects on emotions and learning. Computers in Human Behavior, 44, 81-95. (3) Um, E., Plass, J. L., Hayward, E. O., & Homer,…
THANK YOU to our guest bloggers from 2017!
We're right in the middle of a season where a lot of us are giving thanks and reflecting on the year we have had. For some of us it is because of American or Canadian Thanksgiving, Japanese Labour Thanksgiving, or Turkish National Day of Thanks, or upcoming holidays such as Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa. For…
GUEST POST: The 5-Sided Flashcard
Side 3: Example, Picture, or Story. Now we’re getting somewhere. On tests, teachers often ask students for a definition of a term. Or they give students a definition and ask for the term. But sometimes teachers ask students to provide, or recognize, examples. Students get stuck if they’ve only memorized words and can’t picture a…
GUEST POST: When Implementing Retrieval and Spaced Practice in the Science Classroom, Change Won’t...
Again, I was dissatisfied in the results. I knew practice quizzes had been effective for other courses I taught, yet the correlation was not evident. I shared these data with Megan Sumeracki to see if she could give me any insight. I also had a discussion with my students, where I shared the above graphs…
The Habits of Successful Self-Employed People
Jan 14, 2019 By Alison Research & Patrick Adcock What does it take to be self-employed? Many people dream of working for themselves, but worry that they might not have the ability to be a successful entrepreneur. After all, becoming self-employed can be a big leap into the unknown; most people spend a lot of…
GUEST POST: How Exercise Improves Student Mental Health
The activity connectionIn the last decade, research on the link between exercise and mental health has increased significantly. A paper (4) reviewed the research since 2011 into the link between exercise and depression, self-esteem, anxiety and cognitive functioning and found that the strongest link was found between exercise and cognitive function. For depression, the intervention…
GUEST POST: The Emerging Consensus
By Mike Bell Mike Bell taught science in UK secondary schools and then became interested in evidence. He now runs EBTN: the Evidence Based Teachers Network. EBTN has run dozens of training sessions in UK schools and college and about 7000 teachers receive their newsletter. He has a contract with an education publisher to write…
GUEST POST: How to Use Humor in Order to Teach and Learn More Effectively
References: (1) Carlson, K. A. (2011). The impact of humor on memory: Is the humor effect about humor?. Humor - International Journal of Humor Research, 24(1), 21-41. (2) Strick, M., Holland, R. W., Van Baaren, R., & Van Knippenberg, A. (2009). Humor in the eye tracker: Attention capture and distraction from context cues. The Journal of…
The Importance of Continuity for Businesses
In a world in which the uninterrupted supply of products and services is critically important, Business Continuity Management has become equally important. Alison Publisher, S.M. Waqas Imam, introduces his new course on how to keep a business running in times of crisis. Interruptions in the supply of products and services can arise for a variety…
To Nap or Not to Nap, IS That a Question?
A common sleep recommendation is to limit naps! Wait, what? Anyone who has struggled to get children to nap should be laughing so hard now they might be crying. As a parent of two young boys, I cherish times when they both settle down for an afternoon nap. Certainly, children should be getting more sleep…
