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The New Science of Learning and Why Students Forget their Economics so Quickly

Author

Listed:
  • Donald T. Wargo

    (Department of Economics, Temple University)

  • M. Olguta Vilceanu

    (School of Communication, Rowan University)

Abstract

The human brain has automatic, built-in abilities to filter and discard information so that the vast majority of the information that enters our senses is deleted. Consequently, the result is that teachers need to understand, model, and program student learning to work in harmony with these natural abilities. New discoveries in the "science of learning" that employ multi-disciplinary work in psychology, neuroscience, machine learning, and education have shown us how the human brain works. Furthermore, studies of child development, plasticity of the human brain, and computational approaches to learning have contributed to new understandings of how we learn and how long-term memory is formed. The most important of these findings are: 1. Learning is computational and probabilistic, using Bayesian Logic. 2. Learning is fundamentally social in nature. 3. Designated brain circuits link perception and action. 4. The human hippocampus and REM sleep collaborate to form and store long-term memories. In addition, we present the implications of this research for the teaching of economics and also present practical techniques that can be incorporated into classroom teaching to help students study more efficiently and improve student learning.

Suggested Citation

  • Donald T. Wargo & M. Olguta Vilceanu, 2011. "The New Science of Learning and Why Students Forget their Economics so Quickly," DETU Working Papers 1104, Department of Economics, Temple University.
    • Handle: RePEc:tem:wpaper:1104
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    File URL: http://www.cla.temple.edu/RePEc/documents/detu_11_04.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2011
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Antonio Damasio & Kaspar Meyer, 2008. "Behind the looking-glass," Nature, Nature, vol. 454(7201), pages 167-168, July.
    2. Jonathan D. Cohen, 2005. "The Vulcanization of the Human Brain: A Neural Perspective on Interactions Between Cognition and Emotion," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 19(4), pages 3-24, Fall.
    3. Robert Stickgold, 2005. "Sleep-dependent memory consolidation," Nature, Nature, vol. 437(7063), pages 1272-1278, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Simon D. Halliday & Sai Madhurika Mamunuru, 2025. "Updating Our Approach to Intermediate Microeconomics," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 70(2), pages 295-314, October.

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    JEL classification:

    • D87 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Neuroeconomics

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