1. Chapter One
Main Idea:
- People are naturally curious, but we are not
naturally good thinkers; unless the cognitive
conditions are right, we will avoid thinking -

2. Chapter One
• People enjoy mental work if it is successful. People like to solve
problems, but not to work on unsolvable problems.
• When humans can get away with it, we don’t think. Instead we
rely on memory.
• Thinking occurs when you combine information (environment
and long-term) in new ways.
• Often, the information in the environment is not enough to solve
a problem; we have to rely on information stored in long-term
memory. Information from the environment is what is being
presented to someone at that moment- could be information
received while in class.

3. • Working memory is where thinking occurs; similar to a “stage”.
Working memory pulls information from the environment and
from long-term memory to make a connection so that a person can
“think”.
• Thinking relies on:
1. information from the environment
2. facts in long-term memory
3. amount of space in working memory
• Students need to have some kind of satisfaction when thinking –
feeling of success.

4. Classroom Implications:
• Be sure there are problems to solve.
- don’t just lecture
• Respect students’ cognitive limits
- differing background knowledge
- don’t use too much info at once- crowd working memory
• Clarify the problem to be solved
- make material relevant
- start with information you want them to know
- consider key questions and frame correctly
• Reconsider when to puzzle students
- intrigue students at the beginning AND end of class

5. • Accept and act on variation in students’ preparation
- differentiate assignments based on where they are
- are they prepared for class?
• Change of pace
- plan shifts for change to grab students’ attention
• Keep a diary
- keep track of what works!

6. • Accept and act on variation in students’ preparation
- differentiate assignments based on where they are
- are they prepared for class?
• Change of pace
- plan shifts for change to grab students’ attention
• Keep a diary
- keep track of what works!