Effective Learning: Cognitive Psychology for Students and Lecturers

Evidence in Education

Presented by Dr Matthew Inglis

What do we know about what works in education?  More importantly, how do we know?  Which claims should we believe, and which should we be sceptical about?  This session will help you to become more informed and constructively critical about evidence in educational research.

How we Learn

Presented by Dr Iro Xenidou-Dervou

How do humans process information?  What are their strengths and limitations?  This crash course in cognitive psychology will provide the background necessary to think realistically about how learning works.

Effective Learning

Presented by Dr Nina Attridge

What do people typically believe about how to learn effectively?  Which of these beliefs are borne out by research, and which are not?  This session will highlight common erroneous beliefs and biases that influence study decisions, and review evidence suggesting what we should believe instead.

Lecturing and Learning

Presented by Dr Lara Alcock

What does all of this information mean for lecturers and students?  How can we structure lectures and independent study to maximise effective learning?  Whose responsibility is that organisation?  This facilitated discussion will explore these questions.

All sessions are run by in-house experts from Loughborough’s Mathematics Education Centre

Dr Matthew Inglis publishes widely across mathematics education, psychology and philosophy.  He applies diverse research methods to address research questions raised by all three fields, and in 2017 received the Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year.

Dr Iro Xenidou-Dervou studies mathematical cognition in children and adults.  Her background is in cognitive psychology and she specialises in the cognitive mechanisms underlying mathematical skills and the effects of language on mathematical learning.

Dr Nina Attridge studies logical reasoning and its relationship to higher mathematical study as well as broader issues such as the effect of physical pain on cognition.  Her background is in psychology and she also applies her knowledge to research in the teaching and learning of statistics.

Dr Lara Alcock is Head of the Mathematics Education Centre.  She conducts research on student thinking about mathematics at and around the transition to undergraduate study.  She holds a National Teaching Fellowship and has won numerous School of Science Teaching Awards.