Lifelong Learning at Work and at Home

Arthur Graesser, Elizabeth Albro, Thomas E. Allen and Xiangen Hu discussed the latest in applied learning research in the symposium “Principles of Complex Learning” at the APS 20th Annual Convention, a part of the APS Lifelong Learning at Work and at Home Initiative. In his talk, Graesser, University of Memphis, introduced 25 principles of learning, a checklist of effective learning strategies grounded in science. These principles range from “students benefit more from repeated testing when they expect a final exam” to “a complex lesson should be broken down into manageable subparts,” and everything in between. Albro, U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Services, discussed her research applying these principles to the classroom in order to become more aware of the most subtle aspects of learning, whereas Allen, Gallaudet University, focused on applying them in nontraditional learning situations, such as teaching deaf students to read. Finally, Hu, University of Memphis, talked about “Advanced  Distributed Learning,” a new distance learning method utilizing technology that allows for independence from a physical classroom or geographical location and allows unprecedented flexibility in tailoring education to the individual student.