Synopsis
Since the mid-1970s, IQ scores have been declining across Western nations, reversing decades of cognitive gains. This presentation examines evidence that today's popular "guide on the side" teaching methods and increased reliance on external memory aids may be undermining the very cognitive abilities they aim to enhance.
Drawing from neuroscience research, Barbara Oakley, PhD and Coursera's inaugural "Innovation Instructor", shows how our brains build neural connections through two distinct but complementary memory systems. You'll discover why internal knowledge remains crucial even in the digital age, and what "scaffolding your instruction" truly means in high-dimensional neural space.
The session provides practical strategies for using generative AI to enhance learning while maintaining the internal knowledge development crucial for deeper understanding.
Speaker's Biography
Professor Barbara Oakley, PhD, PE, is a Distinguished Professor of Engineering of Oakland University. She is the author of New York Times best seller, "A Mind for Numbers", and the instructor of one of the most popular massive oopen online courses on Coursera, "Learning How to Learn".