The opportunities and challenges of cognitive science within education

This session will inspire and enable new thinking about the benefits and viability of cognitive science in education, developing research-informed and research-generating practices. We will discuss and explore the nature, advantages, and disadvantages of cognitive science, as well as how scientific knowledge connects to pedagogical expertise. Keynote address by Dr Tom Perry “Cognitive Science and Professional Knowledge: The Art of Applied Cognitive Science”. Learning is unlikely to be successful if it is not aligned with the principles of cognition and memory well-established in cognitive science.  However, there is a danger that more simplistic interpretations of the science and its implications for classroom practice undermine rather than enhance professional knowledge.  This talk considers the nature, strengths and limitations of cognitive science and how scientific knowledge relates to educational expertise.  It focuses on how teachers, school leaders and policy mak