This page has links to readings and videos about the science of learning. A degree of caution is required when applying findings of cognitive science to classroom second language learning, but I have chosen links which I believe to be informative and useful. All are free to read or view at the time of writing.
Readings
Anderson, J. R. (1982). Acquisition of a cognitive skill. Psychological Review (89/4): 369-406 (Time: 2 hours + Difficult!)
Carpenter, S. (2020). A useful article on the spacing effect, aka distributed practice. (Time: 20 minutes)
Cowan, N. (2010). The Magical Mystery Four: How is Working Memory Capacity Limited, and Why? PMC US National Library of Medecine (Time: 15 mins)
Karpicke and Roediger (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. (Time: 20 minutes) NEW 31.1.23
Lightbown, P (2008). In this book chapter Patsy Lightbown examines Transfer-Appropriate Processing as a model for classroom second language teaching (Time: 30 minutes)
Mayer, R.C. & Moreno, R. (2003). Nine ways to reduce cognitive load in multimedia learning. Educational Psychologist 38 (1), 43-52 (Time: 30 mins)
McLeod, S. A. (2012). Working memory. Simply Psychology (Time: 10 mins)
McLeod, S. A. (2007). Levels of Processing. Simply Psychology (Time: 10 mins)
Murre, J. & Dross, J. (2015). Replication and Analysis of Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve. PLOS One (Time: 1 hour+)
Service, E. (1992). Phonology, Working Memory and Foreign-language Learning. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology A, 45 (1), 21-50 (Time: 25 mins)
John Sweller and colleagues describe the evolution of Cognitive Load Theory over the years (Time: 40 minutes)
Singleton (2017) writes about language learning aptitude and the possible role of working memory (Time: 10 minutes)
Videos
Dr Pooja Agarwal talks about spaced practice in this short video (5m 06)
Dr Robert Bjork talks in 2012 about the spaced practice (Time: 5 mins)
Dr Robert Bjork talks in 2015 about the testing effect (Time: 3m 35)
A short video introduction to Dual Coding Theory (Time: 5 minutes) NEW 27.6.23
Dr Henry Roediger gives a lecture in 2012 on the subject of retrieval practice (1 hour 10)
Neuroscientist Dr Catharine Young explains how memories form and why we lose them in this short video (Time: 4m 20)
This video by Dr Carol Yue explains more about the information-processing model of memory (Time: 7m 30)
This fascinating illustrated lecture by Dr Karen Froud examines, from a neuroscientific view, what happens in the brain when we process language (Time: 1h 6 mins)
Professor Alan Baddeley talks about the origins of the Central Executive component of working memory (7m 07)
Dr Robert Bjork explains his Theory of Disuse in this interview (7m 06)
Dr Paul Merritt gives a slide presentation about the phonological loop component of working memory (Time: 10m 40)
Dr Paul Merritt explains how the visuospatial sketchpad works Time: 9m 40)
David Hendricks explains Cognitive Load Theory and how you can apply it to PowerPoint presentations (Time: 4m 20)
Dr Andy Luttrell gives an illustrated talk about schemas (Time: 11m 43)
Dr Carol Dweck gives a short lecture on the subject of growth mindset (Time: 9m 37)
PODCAST
This podcast from The Learning Scientists site, deals with various topics: interleaving, spaced practice, retrieval practice and dual coding (Time: 27 minutes)