Learningfacts

Learningfacts is a term used to describe concise, evidence-based statements about how people learn. They are intended to capture robust findings from educational psychology and cognitive science in a form that is easy to apply in teaching, study planning, and educational technology. A learningfact typically states a principle about learning that has been repeatedly observed across contexts, such as the spacing effect, retrieval practice, or the importance of prior knowledge for new learning.

Components often include a brief description of the phenomenon, its typical boundaries, and practical implications for instruction or study. They may be compiled into libraries, flashcard decks, or decision aids to help students and educators choose strategies that maximize retention and transfer.

Common examples include the value of testing over additional study (testing effect), benefits of distributed practice (spacing), high-quality feedback, and reducing extraneous cognitive load through well-designed materials.

Limitations: learningfacts rely on current evidence and may not apply equally in every domain or learner; overgeneralization is a risk; ongoing review and context-aware application are required.

Relation: part of the broader movement of evidence-based education and cognitive science-informed pedagogy; overlaps with learning principles, study strategies, and instructional design.