Given the robust nature of learning sciences research, this website is best viewed on tablets and computers. A small screen experience is coming in the future.
On June 22, 2021, we will launch updated strategies for the Math PK-2 model, as well as additional updates to the Navigator that highlight equity, SEL, and culturally responsive teaching. To learn more, visit our Site Updates (available in the "About" menu at the top of any page).
Hover to see how factors connect to Sleep. Then click connected factors to explore strategies related to multiple factors.
Sleep is the suspension of consciousness when the body and brain recuperate. While we Sleep, our brain works to store memories (called “consolidation”), our bodies heal and re-energize, and waste byproducts generated by brain cells may even be cleared, helping prepare us for another day of thinking and learning. Sleep is critical to our physical and emotional well-being, and to nearly all aspects of our cognition. When we do not get enough high-quality sleep, our health and cognitive capacities can suffer. Offering extra cognitive supports (like helping redirect students' Attention if their mind wanders) can help with focus for students who are not getting enough Sleep.
There are several stages of Sleep, ranging from lighter to deeper, and as we Sleep we cycle through these stages multiple times a night. The two deepest stages of Sleep may be most important for our well-being (Deep Sleep and REM Sleep), because during these stages we store memories, and our brain and body re-energize in preparation for a new day of learning.
Healthy Sleep is central to our ability to learn and function. There are four main components to healthy Sleep:
When any of these four factors are compromised, this can lead to a Sleep deficit. Sleep deficit is associated with cognitive impairments that become increasingly more evident with more demanding cognitive tasks. One of the most important ways Sleep can affect learning is via memory: as we Sleep, things we learned during the day are “consolidated” and stored in Long-term Memory for retrieval later on. A lack of Sleep interrupts this process in addition to causing other classroom difficulties such as paying Attention in class.
Unfortunately, it is becoming progressively more common for students to receive less Sleep than they need. Children with ADHD may have particular difficulties falling asleep and may experience more restlessness during Sleep. In addition, increased exposure to screens, especially before bedtime, is linked to less Sleep and later bedtimes. The National Sleep Foundation recommends the following amounts of Sleep:
Healthy Sleep practices can vary across cultures: for example, the use of bedtime rituals differs across cultures, and whether children nap during the day can also vary. Different cultural practices surrounding Sleep all lead to equally positive outcomes, and it may be helpful for educators to understand different families' approaches to Sleep.
Although Sleep usually happens at home, research suggests that educators may be able to help children improve their Sleep via in-school education about the importance of Sleep, and by teaching children tips designed to promote healthy Sleep practices.
Creating visual representations such as drawings, diagrams, graphs, and concept maps, whether student or teacher-generated, can help students process abstract concepts, enhancing understanding and retention of information.
Encouraging young children to draw and to explain their drawings in the classroom, can support the development of Core Academic Literacies.
Students explaining their thinking during learning is a metacognitive process that involves actively self-questioning or being questioned while exploring new concepts, and explaining thoughts and reasoning in response.
Visiting places connected to classroom learning provides opportunities to add relevance to classroom topics and deepen understanding through firsthand experiences.
Free choice is when children have free or limited choice over their activities as they learn, and is child-directed rather than teacher-directed.
Games support learning as learners engage with new information in fun and informal ways.
Guided play is when a child is actively engaged in a playful learning environment, with an adult supporting their play and learning..
Gallery walks are ways of showcasing content and materials as multiple “exhibitions” for students to view and interact with as part of larger learning goals.
As learners work together to solve problems, they learn new strategies and practice Communication skills as they express their academic thinking.
Think-Pair-Share (TPS), also known as Turn & Talk (T&T), is when the teacher pauses instruction so students can discuss a topic or prompt in pairs or small groups, to enhance engagement, language development, and learning outcomes.
A mnemonic device is a creative way to support memory for new information using connections to current knowledge, for example by creating visuals, acronyms, or rhymes.
Read-alouds are an important part of developing young learners' foundational reading skills, and can occur both in the classroom and at home with the family, supporting the development of a strong Home Learning Environment.
In guided inquiry, teachers can help students use their own language for constructing knowledge by active listening and questioning.
Supported independent reading, sometimes called Scaffolded Silent Reading, is when teachers scaffold and monitor learners' independent reading time, offering students a choice of accessible texts, and periodic check-in's with individual students to provide guidance and accountability.
Multimodal teaching and learning provides opportunities for students to engage with the same content through different sensory modalities, such as visual, auditory and tactile.
A strengths-based approach is one where educators intentionally identify, communicate, and harness students' assets, across many aspects of the whole child, in order to empower them to flourish.
Goal-setting and monitoring involves teachers working with students to set individualized academic or behavioral goals, plan actions to achieve those goals, and track progress.
Listening comprehension and Decoding are foundational components of reading comprehension and can be supported through the use of audiobooks, digital text-to-speech books, and e-books.
Using motions to explain new concepts or ideas supports the ability to process new information and to convey thinking and conceptual understanding.
Music and dance supports young learners in a myriad of ways, including supporting their engagement and motivation, connecting with cultural background, and offering structure during play.
Physical activity and recess in early childhood provides social, physical, and mental benefits to learners.
Providing instructional steps clearly and concisely can help learners understand classroom expectations and complete tasks efficiently.
A mnemonic device is a creative way to support memory for new information using connections to current knowledge, for example by creating visuals, acronyms, or rhymes.
Physical activity and recess in early childhood provides social, physical, and mental benefits to learners.
Spaced practice is a learning strategy that deliberately spaces out learning or study sessions over varying periods of time, with the purpose of increasing retention, understanding, and long-term knowledge acquisition.
Retrieval practice requires students to access information, or get information “out” from Long-term memory in order to support better retention and understanding.
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This is our homepage. You can access many of the features of the Navigator here, and learn more about how learner variability intersects with topics in education and learning. To start, select a content area – we call them Learner Models – to visit a factor map.
Factor maps show research-based concepts, "factors," that likely impact learning. They are organized into four categories: Learner Background, Social and Emotional Learning, Cognition, and Content Area. The map is interactive. Move your cursor over a factor to see connected factors. Select any factor to visit its summary page. We'll look at factor summary pages next.
This is a factor summary page. It provides a brief definition and review of the factor, a factor connections diagram, additional resources, and strategies that support this factor. On the strategy card, the multi-colored boxes show all the factors that it supports. Select a strategy to visit its summary page.
Strategy summary pages have an overview, information about using the strategy in different learning environments, resources of interest, the factors this strategy supports, and related strategies you can explore. To view all the strategies in a content area, use the strategies tab at the top of the page. We'll look at all the Strategies for this learner model next.
The strategy page shows ALL of the strategies for that learner model. You can select factors of interest for you or your learners, and it will narrow the strategies to only those that match all of the factors selected. This makes it easy to find key strategies to better design for learner variability. Again, select the strategy name to visit its summary page. Use the plus signs on each strategy card to add a strategy to a workspace. We'll explore those next.
The “Tools & Workspaces” tab on the navigation bar or the “My Workspaces” button on the account menu takes you to a page that shows your workspaces. There are two tabs on the My Workspaces page: a Workspaces tab and a Reports tab. The Workspaces tab lists workspaces you can personalize and update. You can create new sections, move cards between sections, add annotations, share with collaborators, and write reflections. The second tab, "Reports", are a kind of workspace created through the Instructional Design Tool or the Product Assessment Tool and have fewer personalization options.
There are three, step-by-step tools you can access on the Navigator to help make workspace or a workspace report. The Learner Centered Design Tool has four steps and helps you create a workspace. First, enter basic information and select a content area of interest. Second, select a few factors that you want to focus on. Third, review connected factors you may not have considered. Note – you don't have to select any extra factors on this step if you don’t want to. The fourth and final step, review and select strategies that you want to use, and save them to a workspace.
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Learner variability is the recognition that each learner is a unique constellation of strengths and challenges that are interconnected across the whole child. Understanding these connections and how they vary according to context is essential for meeting the needs of each learner.
It disrupts the notion of a one-size-fits all education. Understanding learner variability helps educators embrace both students’ struggles and strengths as we connect practice to uplifting the whole learner.
Throughout the site, we talk about "factors" and "strategies." Factors are concepts research suggests have an impact on how people learn. Strategies are the approaches to teaching and learning that can be used to support people in how they learn best.
Use the Learner Centered Design Tool to build a workspace. Go to Learner Centered Design Tool.
Or, create a new blank workspace for your product or project.
Use one of the guided tools to build a workspace.
Or, create a new blank workspace for your product or project.
Make a copy of this workspace.
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On this page, using your heatmap, you will be asked to select factors to further explore, and then select new strategies you might incorporate into upcoming instruction. Once done, click “Show Summary" to view your Design Summary Report.
On this page, using your heatmap, you will be asked to select factors to further explore, and then select new strategies you might incorporate into upcoming instruction. Once done, click “Show Report” to view your Design Summary Report.
By selecting "Show Report" you will be taken to the Assessment Summary Page. Once created, you will not be able to edit your report. If you select cancel below, you can continue to edit your factor and strategy selections.
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Learner variability is the recognition that each learner is a unique constellation of strengths and challenges that are interconnected across the whole child. Understanding these connections and how they vary according to context is essential for meeting the needs of each learner. It embraces both students’ struggles and strengths. It considers the whole child.
Throughout the site, we talk about "factors" and "strategies." Factors are concepts research suggests have an impact on how people learn. Strategies are the approaches to teaching and learning that can be used to support people in how they learn best.
The Learner Variability Navigator is a free, online tool that translates the science of learner variability into factor maps and strategies that highlight connections across the whole learner. This puts the science of learning at teachers' fingertips, empowering them to understand their own practice and support each learner.
