Perceptual Learning Method

"Perceptual learning is experience-dependent enhancement of our ability to make sense of what we see, hear, feel, taste or smell. These changes are permanent or semi-permanent, as distinct from shorter-term mechanisms like sensory adaptation or habituation. Moreover, these changes are not merely incidental but rather adaptive and therefore confer benefits, like improved sensitivity to weak or ambiguous stimuli."

Current Biology; Joshua I Gold, Takeo Watanabe

HOW THINKLOCKER USES the PERCEPTUAL LEARNING Method

Incorporating multiple representations of a term or phrase within each locker enhances the effectiveness of our online learning platform. Learners develop a richer and more nuanced understanding of the concept they are studying. Here are some benefits of using this approach:

Benefits:

  1. Cognitive Connections: Multiple representations of a term or phrase help learners build a more robust mental framework for that concept. Seeing the term from different angles and in various contexts strengthens the neural connections associated with the concept.

  2. Contextual Understanding: Providing diverse representations allows learners to understand how a term or phrase operates in different situations. This promotes deeper comprehension and a broader perspective on the subject matter.

  3. Memory Enhancement: Exposure to multiple visual, auditory, or sensory cues can improve memory retention. When learners encounter variations of a concept, it triggers different memory pathways, making it more likely that they'll remember the information.

  4. Real-world Application: By showcasing various facets of a concept, ThinkLocker prepares learners to recognize and apply their knowledge in a wide range of real-world scenarios.

 

Additional educational theories behind ThinkLocker

Spaced Learning – 

The neuroscience behind spaced learning: “Spaced Learning is a way of creating neural pathways at the start of a unit of work (memory acquisition), which can then be revisited at various intervals over time (memory retrieval). This will emphasize the pathway’s importance and make it easier for you to ‘locate’ it when you need it.”  This idea is significant for both learners and teachers.  

ThinkLocker.com can be used to learn using spaced learning by revisiting lockers after at least a 10-minute break. AND it can be used by teachers to build lockers for their students to use spaced learning in an online or face-to-face environment.

Interleaving –

Interleaving involves learning multiple related concepts at the same time while alternating between them. By switching between different topics or types of problems, interleaving is thought to promote the ability to discern key differences between concepts and to enhance the ability to apply and transfer knowledge to new and varied situations.

ThinkLocker.com uses interleaving in each locker by showing learners alternating images of different terms.  Users of ThinkLocker.com can also benefit from interleaving by switching between different lockers when using the site.

 

Academic Research