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The Role of Knowledge | Dan Willingham

Join cognitive psychologist, Dan Willingham, as he breaks down how understanding various levels of background knowledge can determine comprehension in the classroom and guide students toward critical thinking.

The Role of Knowledge | Dan Willingham

From Georgia EdTalks, The Role of Knowledge
The Role of Knowledge | Dan Willingham

Dan Willingham is is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, where he has taught since 1992. Until about 2000, his research focused solely on the brain's basis of learning and memory. Today, all of his research concerns the application of cognitive psychology to K-16 education.



He is the author of several books, including the best-selling Why Don't Students Like School?, and most recently, Outsmart Your Brain. His writing on education has appeared in twenty-three languages.



​In 2017 he was appointed by President Obama to serve as a Member of the National Board for Education Sciences.

This lecture was a part of the GACIS event in September 2024 in Athens, Georgia.

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Georgia EdTalks Segments

The Role of Knowledge

Professor of Psychology, Dan Willingham, discusses the way prior knowledge sets the stage for student comprehension.

Dan Willingham speaks to GACIS attendees in Athens, Georgia.

The Role of Knowledge | Dan Willingham

The Role of Knowledge | Panel Discussion

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