In his 2004 book, The Wisdom of Crowds, James Surowiecki made the case that “under the right circumstances, groups are remarkably intelligent, and are often smarter than the smartest people in them.” His point being that the collective wisdom of a large group of people provides better solutions than a few experts. I recently had…
Monthly Archives: February 2011
Brain Research on Test Taking Strategies: There is no such thing as a naturally bad test taker — True!
by Bruce Lewolt •
Scientists have mapped the entire human genome and there is no gene for test taking – so no one is naturally bad at it. However, researchers have shown that if a student believes they are a naturally bad test taker or for any other reason fears the test, their brain will engage the fight or…
Brain Research on Intelligence and Working Memory: IQ is fixed by the age of 15 — Myth:
by Bruce Lewolt •
Researchers often break total intelligence into two categories. The first they call Fluid Intelligence or IQ, which is your raw ability to perceive relationships, reason and solve problems independent of any specific experience or education. The second is the sum total of everything you have experienced and learned. This is often called Crystallized Intelligence. It…
Motivation Theory: Offering cash payments for good test scores improves learning outcomes – Myth!
by Bruce Lewolt •
Offering cash payments or gift certificates for good grades actually decreases learning outcomes in the long run, and often encourages cheating. This is especially true for courses in technical subjects or mathematics. A few research studies have shown that cash payments produce a limited improvement in behaviors that are easy for the student – like…