Simplicity
Simple things are easier to learn, understand, and remember; more difficult than difficult things.
The simpler something is, the easier it is to learn.
Simplicity should not be limited to one or two learning objects. Instead, every step of the learning process should be simplified.。
When both the material and the learning process seem simple, it is easy for students to feel comfortable and build their confidence.
When things seem difficult, students may become more discouraged more easily。
Categorization Effect
Our brains are wired to group and categorize everything.
Categorization is a necessary behavior for survival. Our brains grow by building connections in neural networks. Animals categorize living and non-living items into categories; predators and prey; dangerous and safe; etc.
When things seem difficult, students may be more likely to become discouraged.
Categorization helps the brain process information more easily. It helps:
a) Identify problems and solutions.
Functional Fixedness
Some people become restricted to using things only in the traditional way, or in the way they were originally learned.
It is important to teach students how to understand and/or use the information they have learned in different ways.
Functional fixedness can affect students' problem-solving abilities. It can affect general problem-solving abilities and students' ability to use language in different ways.
In language, help students see that there is more than one way to use language; in problem solving, help students think outside the box and see abstract ideas.
