Daniel T. Willingham - Cognitive Psychology in the Classroom

Daniel Willingham, a psychology professor, unexpectedly entered the field of education research after being invited to speak at a teachers' conference. Initially anxious, he discovered that teachers were unfamiliar with basic cognitive psychology concepts. This revelation led him to focus on integrating psychological insights into education, aiming to make them accessible and useful for teachers. Over the years, this work has become his primary focus, and he finds it rewarding.

What was Daniel Willingham's initial field of research before he became involved in education?

• Cognitive psychology

• Educational psychology

• Basic research of memory

• Child development

Why was Daniel Willingham surprised by the invitation to speak at a teachers' conference?

• He was not a teacher himself.

• He was not interested in public speaking.

• He was not familiar with classroom education.

• He had never spoken at a conference before.

What was Willingham's main concern before giving his talk to teachers?

• He thought the teachers would find the content too advanced.

• He was unsure about the relevance of his research.

• He believed the teachers would already know the information.

• He was worried about speaking in front of a large audience.

What realization did Willingham have after his talk that changed his career focus?

• Teachers were not interested in cognitive psychology.

• Teachers lacked knowledge of basic psychological principles.

• His research was not applicable to education.

• He preferred teaching over research.

What is the primary focus of Willingham's work following his experience with teachers?

• Writing textbooks on child development

• Teaching cognitive psychology to college students

• Integrating psychological insights into education

• Developing new memory research techniques