David Geary: Why Learning is Hard and How to Make It Easier
David Geary, with his significant contribution to the science of learning through his theory of primary and secondary knowledge, explains that humans naturally develop “primary” skills (such as language learning and facial recognition), but “secondary” skills like math and reading must be learned through structured education. He argues that these skills are not evolutionarily ingrained in the brain, and their learning process requires cognitive functions like attention, motivation, and working memory.
Geary’s theory offers valuable insights into how schools can develop strategic approaches to make academic learning more efficient. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the challenges of learning and creating structures that ease these processes, ensuring students can succeed in the modern world.
According to Geary, schools must create structured learning environments for students to acquire academic skills. This allows students to develop abilities that cannot be learned naturally, through repetition and practice. Strategies should be developed to spark interest and curiosity in secondary knowledge, as students may not be inherently curious about these topics. Additionally, using cognitive load theory, learning materials should be broken down into smaller chunks to help students grasp them more easily.
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