Bringing the Learning Sciences to Research on Teaching

May 20, 2013

As a professor of the Learning Sciences, Mitchell Nathan works to improve student learning outcomes for concepts and skills in mathematics. He focuses on design principles: (1) combining graphics with verbal descriptions to promote students' integration of concepts, (2) structuring teacher practice to interleave worked examples, (3) carefully spacing student learning of critical content and skills over time, and (4) using focused feedback on quizzes and homework to promote student learning. Nathan is among contributors to the forthcoming Handbook of Research on Teaching (5th edition). With co-author Keith Sawyer, Nathan explains the field of study called Learning Sciences and how its principles relate to research on teaching. More information is available here.