New online course Science of Learning–What Every Teacher Should Know set to launch November 16

by | Nov 11, 2016

mooc-science of learningNEW YORK, New York, November 11, 2016 — On November 16, 2016, Teachers College, Columbia University and the Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning will launch a new MOOC (massive open online course) The Science of Learning–What Every Teacher Should Know on the edX platform. The course is free and open to all.

The four-week MOOC aims to enhance the practice of K-12 teachers. Led by Professor Pearl Rock Kane and Dr. Kevin Mattingly, both faculty at Teachers College, the course explores, through current research, how we learn — the way our brain makes, stores, and retrieves memories.

“By considering teaching and learning through the lens of cognitive science, educators will gain surprisingly simple tools and techniques to improve learning and outcomes for students,” said Professor Kane. Participants will examine common misconceptions and misunderstandings about learning that can prevent students from learning at their fullest capacity. They will also explore the practical implications of cognitive science for classroom teaching in terms of choosing effective instructional strategies, developing useful assessments, motivating students, and designing learner-centered curricular units.

Watch the introduction for the course The Science of Learning–What Every Teacher Should Know, launching on edX this November. The course is led by Professor Pearl Rock Kane and Dr. Kevin Mattingly, both faculty at Teachers College, Columbia University. 

“If you’re a teacher, this course can empower you to help your students become independent and self-regulating learners,” Dr. Mattingly said. “Through this course, you can give your students the skills they need to lead their own learning.”

As a part of the White House ConnectED Initiative, U.S. teachers and students who participate in the Science of Learning course will be eligible for free Verified Certificates. This is one of many free professional development and Advanced Placement® level courses that edX and its partner institutions are providing for teachers and students in high-need schools.

The course will consist of video lectures by guest teachers from the field, expert interviews, online discussions, illustrations of concepts, a glossary of terms, activities for exploration and application, reflective prompts, and interactive assessments.

Visit TeachersCollegeX to register for The Science of Learning–What Every Teacher Should Know and to keep informed about upcoming MOOC releases from Columbia. Enroll today!

Meet the Instructors

Pearl Rock Kane 

Professor Kane currently holds the Klingenstein Family Chair for the Advancement of Independent School Education at Teachers College where she has taught courses in leadership to over 4000 educators around the world. She serves as the director of the Klingenstein Center and is the advisor for the master’s degree programs. Previously, she taught English and history and served as an administrator in public and private schools in Michigan, Massachusetts and New York. (Read Professor Kane’s full bio on the edX website.)

Kevin Mattingly

Dr. Mattingly has been a science teacher, administrator, and athletic coach for 35 years in junior high and high schools. In addition, he has taught graduate courses in learning theory and its practical teaching applications for 10 years at Teachers College, Columbia University. Over the years he has helped start a school (The Mountain School in VT), been a consultant to systemic school reform initiatives, and worked with over thirty schools on curriculum design, teaching strategies and professional development programs.n, Massachusetts and New York. (Read Dr. Mattingly’s full bio on the edX website.)