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Insights, tips, and resources for parents, teachers, and learners on their educational journey.
A 658-day Duolingo streak doesn't necessarily make you confident enough to order dinner. A family holiday in Sardinia got Julian thinking about context, confidence, retrieval - and the difference between completing activities and actually learning.
Julian Dance
Britain's recent heatwave has left many of us saying the same thing: "I just can't think." But what if that experience reveals something important about how learning works? In this article, Julian explores the surprising parallels between cognitive performance in extreme temperatures and the challenges students face when misconceptions, knowledge gaps and cognitive overload get in the way of understanding.
As AI becomes increasingly common in education, an important question remains: what actually helps students learn? This article explores why guided learning, scaffolding and active thinking matter more than simply giving learners answers.
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After nearly twenty years in the classroom, I've become fascinated by a simple question: why do some students develop deep understanding while others struggle despite working hard? Looking back at a career's worth of books on teaching, cognitive science and misconceptions, I realised they were all helping me explore the same challenge.
As students head into half term, the instinct is often to cram harder. But cognitive science suggests a different approach works far better. From dual coding and retrieval practice to short bursts of deep thinking and connected knowledge mapping, this guide explores how students can strengthen understanding, memory and confidence in the final weeks before exams - without burning out.
A simple hand-drawn comic about Argon and Lithium turned a chemistry tutoring session into an engaging learning experience. This article explores how drawing, storytelling, and dual coding theory can help students better understand and retain complex concepts.
Drawing isn’t just a study technique - it’s a powerful cognitive process. Backed by Dual Coding Theory and the Drawing Effect, sketching helps students encode, organise, and retain knowledge. When combined with instant feedback, it becomes one of the most effective learning strategies available.
Learning is not exposure-it is memory. This article explores why thinking, retrieval and spacing are essential for building lasting understanding in education.
Metacognition helps students plan, monitor and improve their learning. A simple guide for parents to build confidence, independence and real GCSE progress.
A clear, practical reflection on the book 'Making Every Lesson Count' by Shaun Allison and Andy Tharby, and how challenge, explanation, modelling, practice, feedback and questioning improve science learning.
Students are not “visual learners” or “not science people.” Modern neuroscience shows the brain is flexible and constantly changing. Gareth Moores explains the learning science every student should understand.
Practical work is central to science teaching, but experiments alone don’t guarantee understanding. Julian explores what research says about effective science learning.
After 15 years in the classroom, Julian argues that connected knowledge - not memorised facts - is what truly transforms GCSE science outcomes. Drawing on Wynne Harlen’s Big Ideas, he explains why coherence builds confidence, understanding and exam success.
In an age of AI and instant answers, understanding matters more than ever. When students learn how ideas connect, they think more clearly, remember more effectively, and approach new challenges with confidence. This article explores why structured, connected knowledge is essential for deep learning and long-term success.