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
   
   

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

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

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

Overview: Metacognition, or thinking about one's own thinking, enhances learning by helping individuals monitor their understanding, evaluate progress toward goals, and choose appropriate strategies. It enables learners to take control of their learning by recognizing what they know, identifying gaps, and adjusting approaches when obstacles arise. Learning is most effective when consistently engaging in metacognitive monitoring, noting inconsistencies and seeking additional information when needed. These strategies are shaped by cultural norms and social interactions and can be taught explicitly through guided practice, modeling, and reflection. However, for metacognition to be effective, it must be integrated into specific subject matter rather than taught as standalone skills.

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

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

Best Practices: 

• Teachers use Think-Alouds to model metacognitive strategies by verbalizing their thinking during a task (e.g., solving a problem, reading a text).
  
  

• Incorporate structured reflection prompts (e.g., “What did I learn?” “What confused me?” “What will I do differently next time?”) before, during, and after activities. Pair this with student-created learning goals to deepen ownership of the process.
  
  

• Use guiding questions that prompt students to explain their reasoning, evaluate strategies, and consider alternatives. Encourage small-group or partner dialogue where students articulate their thought processes and give each other feedback.
  
  

4. Foster Social Learning in a Supportive Community

4. • Students learn better in collaborative, inclusive environments.
     
     

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