Understanding how students learn is essential for modern educators. The emerging field known as the “science of learning” synthesizes insights from neuroscience, psychology and cognitive science to reveal the mechanisms behind memory, attention, motivation and reasoning.
By translating cutting-edge research, such as the spacing effect, retrieval practice and active learning, into classroom strategies, teachers can apply these principles of learning to a wide variety of educational domains and design more effective learning experiences.
Core concepts, including spaced repetition and the testing effect, have decades of empirical support. Practices like dual coding, elaborative rehearsal and self-regulated learning promote deeper processing and metacognition. When woven together, these strategies empower students to internalize and transfer understanding.
Some Core Concepts in the Science of Learning
The following offers an overview of some of the core concepts of the science of learning. Teachers who educate themselves in these areas have a better understanding of how to use principles of learning that better engage students.
Spaced Practice and the Spacing Effect
Decades ago, Hermann Ebbinghaus demonstrated that spreading study sessions over time significantly improves long-term memory compared to cramming. Modern classrooms incorporate this approach through cumulative reviews to enhance retention. For example, a math teacher might revisit fractions and decimals weekly, reinforcing neural connections and preventing forgetting.
Retrieval Practice
Frequent low‑stakes quizzes, flashcards and prompts encourage active recall, dramatically improving future retention. Frequent information retrieval while students are first learning a new topic can boost long-term memory, higher-order thinking and knowledge transfer. Incorporating mini-assessments, such as starting lessons with warm-up questions, puts this phenomenon to work in the classroom.
Interleaving and Desirable Difficulty
Rather than teaching one concept to mastery and then moving on, interleaving mixes related topics such as algebra, geometry and probability. This forces learners to choose the appropriate strategy for a given challenge.
Elaboration, Dual Coding and Concrete Examples
Elaborative rehearsal helps memory by linking new concepts with prior knowledge via analogies, mnemonics, or visualization. Meanwhile, dual coding combines text with images or diagrams to reinforce understanding. Teachers who pair vocabulary definitions with concept maps or stories can harness these effects for deeper learning.
Active Learning
A substantial body of meta-analyses suggests that active learning, which incorporates discussions, experiments and problem-based tasks, can outperform traditional lecturing methods. For example, engaging students in small-group debates deepens content knowledge and models higher-order thinking skills.
By integrating these strategies, teachers can create multi-modal, flexible and supportive environments. Unlocking the science of learning enables teachers to move beyond intuition and tradition, embracing proven methods that enhance student success.
Fresno Pacific University’s Principles of Learning Professional Development Courses
Educators interested in taking an in-depth look into the science of learning can do so through Fresno Pacific University’s Principles of Learning course. The professional development course allows educators to enhance their skills and knowledge while earning the necessary professional development credits.
This graduate‑level course integrates neuroscience, psychology and cognitive science into practical strategies ready for classroom use. The curriculum covers evidence-based approaches, such as spaced practice, retrieval techniques, active learning, dual coding and more, equipping teachers with the ability to enhance student engagement and achievement.