How Learning Works

Seven Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching

By: Susan A. Ambrose, Michael W. Bridges, Marsha C. Lovett, Michele DiPietro, Marie K. Norman

Narrated by: Chelsea Stephens

Any conversation about effective teaching must begin with a consideration of how students learn. However, instructors may find a gap between resources that focus on the technical research on learning and those that provide practical classroom strategies. How Learning Works provides the bridge for such a gap.

Distilling the research literature and translating the scientific approach into language relevant to a college or university teacher, this book introduces seven general principles of how students learn. The authors have drawn on research from a breadth of perspectives (cognitive, developmental, and social psychology; educational research; anthropology; demographics; organizational behavior) to identify a set of key principles underlying learning, from how effective organization enhances retrieval and use of information to what impacts motivation. Integrating theory with real-classroom examples in practice, this book helps faculty to apply cognitive science advances to improve their own teaching.

©2010 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (P)2019 Tantor

Great information.

Great information. If one is unfamiliar with the concepts, it may be too difficult to absorb audibly without taking notes. However, the information was perfect for my needs.

Great structure and examples

Really enjoyed this book and structure it brings into understanding how learning works. Highly recommended to both learners and teachers.

Great Book!

This book is really well made. It breaks down all seven principles of teaching in easy- to-absorb chunks, practical advice, and illustrative examples. Though I'm gearing to teach the early grades, I found plenty to take away from this book because the principles of learning are central to every discipline. I'm well pleased.

Tons of insight into teaching and learning, personally enriching!

This book will challenge any teacher, regardless of experience level, to examine ways to improve their teaching. These methods will help you, and your students, far beyond the time you have them in class.

A very hard book to listen to audibly.

This was one of the most difficult books to listen to audibly. If you were reading the book it may not be so bad. However, the words “for example” appears so many times that a colleague and I were joking it would be a great drinking game book. Every time you hear the word for example, take a drink. It does have some good ideas, but this book could’ve been cut in half and still gotten all of the points across.