How People Learn – Principles & Impact on Student Learning

Four research-based principles from How People Learn (Goldman & Pellegrino, 2015), focusing on practical, student-centered strategies that K–12 teachers can apply across all subjects. The goal is to improve student engagement, retention, and mastery, especially for English Learners (ELs), in districts like San Bernardino City Unified School District.

Key Learning Principles & Best Practices

1. Activate Prior Knowledge & Cultural Backgrounds

Overview: Students are not blank slates – they enter class with prior knowledge, beliefs, cultural backgrounds, and languages that shape how they learn. Effective teaching elicits and builds on learners’ preexisting understandings (their “funds of knowledge”) rather than ignoring them. By acknowledging students’ home experiences and identity, teachers can connect new content to what students already know, making learning more meaningful. This is crucial for English Learners, who bring rich linguistic and cultural assets. An asset-based approach views students’ native languages and experiences as strengths to draw upon, not obstacles. Research shows that when students see their identities valued in class, they are more engaged and willing to invest effort in learning.

1. • Learning is deeper when students’ experiences, culture, and language are acknowledged.
     
     

   • Strategies: K-W-L charts, storytelling, culturally relevant content, bilingual support.

Best Practices:

• • Use K-W-L charts, storytelling, and discussions to connect new content to students’ experiences.

  • Implement culturally relevant teaching by integrating students’ backgrounds into lessons.

  • Support EL's by allowing bilingual discussions, preview-review strategies, and native language resources to scaffold learning.
    
    

2. Organize Knowledge for Deep Understanding
   
   

   • Students retain more when they see connections between concepts and real-life contexts.
     
     

   • Strategies: Focus on big ideas, use concept maps and inquiry-based tasks.
     
     

3. Promote Metacognition & Feedback for Learning
   
   

   • Self-reflection and meaningful feedback boost learning and ownership.
     
     

   • Strategies: Formative assessments, goal setting, targeted feedback.
     
     

4. Foster Social Learning in a Supportive Community
   
   

   • Students learn better in collaborative, inclusive environments.
     
     

   • Strategies: Cooperative learning (e.g., Think-Pair-Share), differentiation, inclusive classroom culture.