Tag: Classroom learning

Why Do Some Lessons Stay with Us and Others Disappear After Exams?

Rethinking Learning in our classrooms through Made to Stick

Recently, I revisited Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath, and one idea hit close to home for our classrooms in Pakistan, the Curse of Knowledge.

Once we know something, we forget what it felt like not to know it. And that’s where communication often breaks down.

In many of our classrooms, teachers explain concepts from an expert’s perspective, while students are still trying to understand the basics. The result? Students memorise, pass exams, and then forget everything.

The book reminds us that ideas stick when they are:

  • Simple
  • Unexpected
  • Concrete
  • Credible
  • Emotional
  • Story-driven

And when we look honestly at our classrooms, we must ask: How many of our lessons are actually designed to stick?

Because if learning disappears after exams, then something in the system needs to be rethought.

Continue reading “Why Do Some Lessons Stay with Us and Others Disappear After Exams?”