Until recently, I didn't know that there is a well-know book titled Why don't students like school?, written by Daniel T. Willingham, a professor at our Univeristy — the University of Virginia. The book offers some insightful ideas about how we think:
- The mind is not designed for thinking—it's designed to save you from thinking: In other words, thinking is effortful, and students will avoid it unless they are motivated and the conditions are right.
- People are naturally curious—but only if the problem is the right level of difficulty: If it's too hard, they give up; if it's too easy, they get bored.
- Memory is the residue of thought: We remember what we think about. So, lessons should focus students' thinking on the right things.
- Factual knowledge is essential for critical thinking: The more you know, the easier it is to understand, learn new things, and think critically.
- Students learn better when lessons are meaningful and connected to prior knowledge.
- Teaching should build on stories, emotions, and visuals—because those are what the brain remembers best.