In thinking through any complex issue, there are going to be different possible solutions and perspectives. Ideally, a smart and critical thinker would reason through the pros and cons of the different possibilities and come to a balanced view of the issue. Yet a great deal of research finds … [Read more...] about Does High Intelligence Mean Low Cognitive Bias?
Strategies for Taking Notes on Computer
One of the core ways we learn is by listening to lectures. We learn more when we take notes, especially when making use of good note taking strategies. Taking notes affords you with an external record of what was said. An incomplete record, by all means, but something you can look back at … [Read more...] about Strategies for Taking Notes on Computer
Argument Skills and How to Teach Them
Argumentation is the thought process used to develop and present arguments. It is closely related to critical thinking and reasoning. Argument skills belong among the essential 21st century cognitive skills. We face complex issues that require careful, balanced reasoning to resolve. Perhaps … [Read more...] about Argument Skills and How to Teach Them
Guided Discovery Learning: Balancing Student Freedom and Support
In days of old, a good bit of learning was done by rote memorization. The lesson is given. Recite and repeat over and over until you’ve got it down. Rote learning still exists. It gets used in some places and for some topics. A radically different approach is discovery learning. With discovery … [Read more...] about Guided Discovery Learning: Balancing Student Freedom and Support
Spotting Fallacious Arguments
Starting an argument with someone can be a great way to learn more about a topic. Arguments help us check our own thinking, come to terms with someone else’s reasoning, and occasionally even arrive at a shared understanding about what we believe to be true. Being open to debate is a great way to … [Read more...] about Spotting Fallacious Arguments
What is Cognition and What Good is it?
You never used to hear anyone say the word cognition. More and more, it seems to crop up in all kinds of places. I see cognition crop up in newspapers, magazines, and letters from my kid’s school. As someone who makes his living off of cognition, that’s comforting. But what is cognition really … [Read more...] about What is Cognition and What Good is it?