CBL: Cognitive Science Goes to School

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Students will read, synthesize, and discuss how cognitive science can help us make decisions when faced with questions about teaching, learning, and instructional design. Cognitive science provides models and rigorous evidence about the mechanisms involved in thinking, learning, and problem solving. Although we do not yet have complete understanding of how basic cognitive research can be applied to education, we are far enough along that we should try to take advantage of what we know to improve teaching and learning. Students in this class will apply cognitive science research to inform their education-related service for elementary or middle school children. They also will carry out a small-n experiment to evaluate if a particular instructional design feature matters for children's learning, and one of the final exam questions will ask students to propose an original experiment for the next class to test. Community placements may include mathematics and/or early reading tutoring conducted two days a week (either M/W or T/TH) in the local South Bend community and/or via virtual Zoom tutoring for Catholic school children across the country served by the ACE Teaching Fellows program. Note that some of the local sites we work with may not be within walking distance of campus, so students may need to have a car or regular access to transportation for those sites if chosen. Access to a car can be arranged through the Center for Social Concerns. This seminar is offered only in the fall; however, students will be encouraged to continue their service during the spring semester through a 1-credit ESS service-learning option. **IMPORTANT NOTE FOR FALL 2021: travel into the local public schools in person may still not be possible for outside visitors. If that is the case, all tutoring (both local and for ACE TF) will be completed remotely via Zoom with children in their school buildings.