Designed Learning

Championing curriculum-based assessments & science of reading

by Dr Gail Brown | February 27, 2022
Championing curriculum-based assessments & science of reading

Hugh Catts champions the use of curriculum-based assessments as these are more appropriate and equitable for all students. Teachers should consider his criticisms of state tests and decide if these apply to the state and national tests in their school.

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Replications & Tessellations: Fun, learning & repetition! Part 2 of 5

by Dr Gail Brown | February 21, 2022
Replications & Tessellations:  Fun, learning & repetition! Part 2 of 5

Earlier posts discussed the importance of repetition, and this post links back to earlier posts, as well as providing a fun example of Escher's Tessellations as repetition. To some teachers and many students, repetition seems boring - and yet it's so important for ensuring that learning finds its way into long term memory!

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2022 Positive Start: Somebody’s Land Book Review

by Dr Gail Brown | January 16, 2022
2022 Positive Start: Somebody’s Land Book Review

Somebody's Land should be in every classroom around Australia!

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Why is rote learning of knowledge and strategies important in literacy?

by Dr Gail Brown | October 8, 2021
Why is rote learning of knowledge and strategies important in literacy?

Overlearning of knowledge and strategies, rote learning, is an important foundation for critical thinking. This post presents literacy examples, building on the previous post in numeracy. Such learning is based on cognitive load theory (Sweller, 2017) and enables effective learning in any domain and any topic. Rote learning enables our brains to think automatically to complete many tasks, and we often don't realise this!

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Why is rote learning of knowledge and strategies important in numeracy?

by Dr Gail Brown | September 4, 2021
Why is rote learning of knowledge and strategies important in numeracy?

Rote learning, and the importance of practice for long term memory, is important for gaining both knowledge and for mastering strategies and complex, higher order tasks. This posts champions Dan Willingham's book (Why don't students like school?) as he outlines the importance of rote learning for all learners. Each chapter in his book concludes with suggestions for how teachers can use this in their classrooms.

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Early intervention reading research!

by Gail Brown | April 4, 2021
Early intervention reading research!

Evidence-based practice supported by a neonatal pediatrician! Dr John Hutton's program supports parents reading to their young babies and also supports early screening for young preschoolers by identifying potential interventions.

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