To be remembered, new information must be meaningfully connected to prior knowledge, and it must be remembered in order to be learned. New information organized in personally meaningful ways is more likely to be retained, learned, and used. The ways in which learners are assessed and evaluated affect the ways they approach learning. Mastering a skill or body of knowledge takes great amounts of time and practice. Prior knowledge and experience generally make more difference than intellectual ability in learning success.
High expectations encourage high achievement.
To be most effective, teachers must balance levels of intellectual challenge and instructional support. Interaction among teachers and learners is one of the most powerful factors in promoting learning. Last updated Nov. 18, 1999.