A huge amount of research has gone into clarifying how we learn best. How can we make sure that information doesn’t just go in one ear and out the other? How do we get our knowledge to stick, rather than slip away over time? The answers that research points to are almost always different from what our intuition leads us to believe.
We want to clear things up for you. We’re guessing that you want to learn as effectively as you possibly can, right? So, over the next few weeks we will be posting a series of blog posts that will challenge your assumptions on learning. Each post will focus on one aspect of learning, so that by the end of this series you will have gathered all the key principles.
Ready to bust some serious learning myths? Look no further, our first one is just below:
Research has shown that intelligence is fixed at birth. Although studying can go some way in improving our brainpower, it is unlikely that this will have a dramatic effect.
THIS IS FALSE.
While some of us may naturally be better at certain subjects, through deliberate practice our abilities can be drastically increased.
In fact, studies have even shown that just knowing that intelligence is malleable has a positive impact on academic achievement. What this means is that if you’re reading this, you have already increased your likelihood of success!
This idea is what we call the growth mindset: a hunger for learning that sees mistakes as opportunity for improvement, not indication of failure.
Want to read more on this topic? Check out these links:
- Mindset: How You Can Fulfil Your Potential
- How To Help Every Child Fulfil Their Potential
- A social-cognitive approach to motivation and personality
What is Up Learn? Up Learn uses artificial intelligence and research from cognitive science to help students achieve A* results. Find out more.
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'Up Learn has helped my son achieve his goals – he said he found the approach different and fresh, making it a shake-up from school lessons. This meant that he found ways of learning that really worked for him. Communication with him and myself was very good because of Up Learn.'
