Weinstein argued that teaching these ideas to students would help them learn better. At the time there wasn t much support for her theory in cognitive psychology, says Paul Pintrich, PhD, a psychologist and learning-motivation researcher at the University of Michigan. Next, Weinstein derived assessment methods, teaching ideas and instructional materials from her learning theory. As chair of the doctoral concentration in learning and cognition where she was once a student, she crafted a course that is now mandatory for at-risk UT students. They then retake it at the end of the course to check their progress and identify areas where they still need to improve.
Studies show the course works.
Anyone can benefit Learning strategies aren t just for low-achievers, says Weinstein. Bright students reap their benefits as well, she says. They hope to give high schools feedback about what best prepares students for college-level studying and learning and advise colleges on ways to help students become more strategic learners. By insisting that students are the masters of their own learning, Claire Ellen s work has enriched the education of hundreds and thousands of college students,' says educational psychologist Anita Woolfolk Hoy, PhD, a learning researcher at The Ohio State University. Information processing Creating effective images and explanations of concepts and using reasoning skills to gain knowledge.