Why Executive Function Is A Vital Stepping-Stone For Kids’ Ability to Learn | MindShift | KQED News. Neuroscientists and educational psychologists are constantly learning more about how children learn and the various influences beyond IQ that affect cognition.
Some research, like Carol Dweck’s on growth mindset or Angela Duckworth’s on grit, quickly became catch phrases among educators. At the same time, critics have pushed back against the notion that students underperform only because of cognitive deficits, pointing to an equally pressing need for big changes to teaching practice. Many teachers are trying to combine the research about cognitive skills with more effective teaching practices. They are finding that whether students are working on self-directed projects or worksheets, executive functioning skills are important.
Bruce Wexler has been studying executive functioning — a group of cognitive abilities crucial for managing oneself and information — for the past 20 years. “Training these executive functions leads to improvement in achievement schools,” Wexler concluded.