If you want it here, don’t put it there.

BenRogers

Wall displays, formula sheets and placemats…

If you want students to commit knowledge to long-term memory, you shouldn’t put it on the wall.

wall display CLT diagram
Wall displays, formula sheets and placemats as external memory

When you put knowledge on the wall, students will make use of it. Using external memory is a tremendously helpful method of reducing cognitive load. They will learn how to use the information. But they won’t learn the things on the wall.

So if you want them to learn something, help them learn it. Keep the wall for other things.

 

Published by BenRogers

18 years secondary teacher: 4 years primary. MA in SciEd, member of IoP (serving on the Education Committee) and Chartered Science Teacher. Author of 'Big Ideas of Physics and How to Teach Them.' Director of Curriculum and Pedagogy for Paradigm Trust.

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