Learn what matters most

Gain a clear, accessible introduction to the principles behind effective learning, with a focus on what teachers can actually use in classrooms from Y1 to Y13.

Turn research into routine

Explore strategies such as retrieval practice, spacing, chunking, and cognitive load management, and see how they can shape everyday teaching decisions.

Make it work in your context

Each section connects ideas to practical examples, so you can adapt the course to your year level, subject, and school setting with confidence.

About the course

The Science of Learning in Practice is a free online course for teachers who want a solid, no-nonsense introduction to the research on how students learn best. It focuses on the big ideas that matter in practice: how to reduce unnecessary overload, how to strengthen memory over time, how to use retrieval and spacing effectively, and how to create the conditions for deeper engagement. The course is designed to be clear, flexible, and immediately useful. You can work through it at your own pace, pick up ideas one page at a time, and return to the sections most relevant to your teaching. If you are looking for practical strategies, classroom-ready examples, and a better understanding of why some approaches work better than others, this is a good place to start.

Dr. Mark Osborne

Mark Osborne is the Director of Leading Learning and has been a teacher, school leader, consultant, author and speaker for almost thirty years. He has a PhD from the University of Melbourne in leading change in education, and has worked with schools and school districts throughout New Zealand and Australia; North and South America; Europe and Asia. Mark is particularly passionate about leadership development, change leadership, and innovation in schools.

Curriculum

8 Chapters · 17 Lessons

  1. 1
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      How This Course Works

  2. 2
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Section 1.1: Working Memory and Cognitive Load

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Section 1.2: Prior Knowledge and Schema

  3. 3
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Section 2.1: Explicit Instruction and Worked Examples

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Section 2.2: Chunking, Sequencing, and Building Up to Complexity

  4. 4
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Section 3.1: Retrieval Practice

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Section 3.2: Spaced Practice

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Section 3.3: Interleaving

  5. 5
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Section 4.1: Dual Coding and Representations

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Section 4.2: Elaboration and Deep Explanation

  6. 6
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Section 5.1: What Engagement Actually Is

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Section 5.2: Feedback and Corrective Practice

  7. 7
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Section 6.1: Metacognition and Self-Regulation

  8. 8
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Common Study Strategy Misconceptions

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Final Words and Recall Check

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Glossary

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      References

Work at your own pace. Start today!

Learn how simple changes, when aligned with the science of learning, can increase the impact of your day-to-day teaching.

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