Does talking out loud help with learning?

Processing new information, and drawing connections across readings or concepts can be a challenging cognitive task, and yet our courses and assignments sometimes require this ability. In this time-out, I invited two colleagues to help me learn more about how a “think aloud” session or training might enhance students confidence, their ability to trust source information, and allow instructors to catch, in real time, how a student’s line of thought may be guiding them in the wrong direction.

Tarchi 2020: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/acp.3782

Barnett 1998: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED422288

Banning 2008: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17383056/

Tanner 2012: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22665584/

Can drawing out connections enhance learning?

Some students struggle with how to take notes in class, often because they don’t think in the linear logical way that traditional notes are organized. A creative alternative, that focuses on connections across a lecture or topics, seems to be really helpful for learning. In this time-out, along with a few guests, we’ll look at the evidence that supports mind-maps as an effective learning and note-taking approach to classroom success.

Kaup et al (2024): https://www.njppp.com/index.php?mno=215336

Jabade & Nadaf (2024): 10.4103/jehp.jehp_321_24

Edwards & Cooper (2010): 10.1111/j.1743-498X.2010.00395.x

How can we address students’ key questions and motivation from the first day of a course?

In this time-out, we will revisit a popular topic from this podcast project and continue to think about tactics that can enhance the first day of class, with some new evidence and activities that can help students settle in for a good start and positive experience.

Meaders et al (1): https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2021.639338

Meaders et al (2): https://stemeducationjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40594-021-00306-y

Hale & Wetmiller (2022): https://publications.aaahq.org/iae/article-abstract/37/4/25/211/Syllabus-Day-Reinvented-Reimagining-the-First-Day?redirectedFrom=fulltext

McGinley & Jones (2014): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0098628314530350