AI should be introduced in the classroom without harming the cognitive abilities education aims to develop, says Erika Galea Artificial intelligence is not going away. But in the rush to integrate it into classrooms, we risk framing AI as the ultimate solution for teaching and learning, rather than what it truly is: a tool; a … Continue reading The neural cost of convenience: teaching with, and not by, AI – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta (originally published by Oxford University Press)
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Kids on iPads: the silence of the goldfish? – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
More than banning screens, we need to understand what children’s brains can cope with and when too much becomes harmful https://x2.timesofmalta.com/20251102/child/kids-on-ipads-the-silence-of-the-goldfish/ You’ve probably seen it: a child throwing a tantrum is handed a screen, and suddenly, it’s as if someone pressed the mute button. Peace returns instantly, like magic. But what if this ‘magic’ is … Continue reading Kids on iPads: the silence of the goldfish? – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
‘They do not just learn differently, they are different’ – Dr. Erika Galea interviewed by The Malta Independent
Dr Erika Galea on educating Generation Alpha Born into a world of hyperconnectivity and AI, Generation Alpha faces neurological and emotional realities no curriculum was designed for. In her new book, Generation Alpha in the Classroom: New approaches to learning, co-authored with Olga Sayer, Dr Erika Galea challenges educators to move beyond outdated methods and embrace a … Continue reading ‘They do not just learn differently, they are different’ – Dr. Erika Galea interviewed by The Malta Independent
‘My brain’s (not) on holiday!’ – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
Erika Galea discusses how to prevent summer becoming a three-month brain break for your child June 22, 2025 - 4 minute read Summer learning is not about cramming or worksheets; it is about bringing old knowledge back into the sunlight – in fun, natural ways. Photo: Shutterstock.com In a few days’ time, Malta’s schools will … Continue reading ‘My brain’s (not) on holiday!’ – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
Learn to work with your brain – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
By understanding what strengthens your brain’s connections, you stop guessing your way through learning and start making it work for you, not against you. May 25, 2025| Erika Galea|4 min read https://timesofmalta.com/article/learn-work-brain.1110225 By learning how your brain works, you sharpen its ability to absorb new information and adapt quickly. What if the secret to better learning … Continue reading Learn to work with your brain – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
Developing and nurturing learning potential in children and adolescents – Dr. Rosienne Camilleri & Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
From an early age, Marcus was a curious little boy, always eager to explore the world around him. His parents, John and Martha, were often told what a bright child they had, as Marcus constantly asked questions and eagerly absorbed new information. It seemed like he had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. But when Marcus … Continue reading Developing and nurturing learning potential in children and adolescents – Dr. Rosienne Camilleri & Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
How can we help children thrive at school? – an interview with Dr. Erika Galea by Newsbook Malta
https://newsbook.com.mt/en/how-can-we-help-children-thrive-at-school/ As the new school year begins, children are returning to school with all the challenges, opportunities and emotions it brings. They may be excited to see their friends but also conscious – perhaps apprehensive – of the academic challenges that lie ahead. When struggling with a subject, children may sometimes be told that they … Continue reading How can we help children thrive at school? – an interview with Dr. Erika Galea by Newsbook Malta
Adapting Education for the Digital Natives: Rethinking Teaching Methodologies for Today’s Technologically Fluent Children – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
Many educators approach me asking: 'How can we increase engagement among this generation of students in our classrooms? It seems they're not interested." My response is: "Are we adapting our teaching methods to suit and meet the needs of today's students, who are born in a world filled with technology? Or are we educating our … Continue reading Adapting Education for the Digital Natives: Rethinking Teaching Methodologies for Today’s Technologically Fluent Children – Dr. Erika Galea on the Sunday Times of Malta
Understanding how we think: why educators need to know how the brain learns – Dr. Erika Galea on The Sunday Times of Malta
Educators carry a significant responsibility: not only do they guide students in understanding new concepts but they also equip them with the essential skills needed for the 21st century. However, to do that well, they need to know not just what to teach, but how students learn. It is a question that is as simple … Continue reading Understanding how we think: why educators need to know how the brain learns – Dr. Erika Galea on The Sunday Times of Malta
‘A teacher who has a growth mindset believes that the brain is malleable and develops efficiently if we work with it in the right way, believes that kids can be given wonderful opportunities to learn almost anything they need to learn, and that our job is to reflect that to kids’ – Prof. Carol Ann Tomlinson
In the second vlog of her 4-part series, Professor Carol Ann Tomlinson delves into how research standards have evolved over time. In the 70s, researchers met the best-known standards of their era, just as in fields like medicine and architecture. They couldn't meet a 2020 research standard simply because they operated with the best knowledge … Continue reading ‘A teacher who has a growth mindset believes that the brain is malleable and develops efficiently if we work with it in the right way, believes that kids can be given wonderful opportunities to learn almost anything they need to learn, and that our job is to reflect that to kids’ – Prof. Carol Ann Tomlinson
Fostering Cognitive Foundations through the Integration of Creative Arts in Curriculum – Dr. Erika Galea
This article provides relevant insights into incorporating creative arts skills into the core subjects, for the attention of parents, teachers and other stakeholders interested in the development of children at any stage in their educational journey. Introduction In recent years, there has been an increasing global recognition of the significance of integrating creative arts into … Continue reading Fostering Cognitive Foundations through the Integration of Creative Arts in Curriculum – Dr. Erika Galea
‘Transfer of knowledge is not automatic. In order for our students to transfer knowledge or skills from one scenario to another, we need to guide them. I always think of learning for the teacher as a well-choreographed dance’ – Patrice Bain
In the third and last part of her three-part vlog series, Patrice Bain, an experienced educator, speaker, and author, delves into how the process of knowledge transfer is not automatic; it requires guidance to enable students to apply knowledge and skills across different scenarios. This concept is likened to a well-choreographed dance in the context … Continue reading ‘Transfer of knowledge is not automatic. In order for our students to transfer knowledge or skills from one scenario to another, we need to guide them. I always think of learning for the teacher as a well-choreographed dance’ – Patrice Bain
‘Too often, we as teachers do not give the students the tools to discriminate what they know from what they don’t know…..Simply by learning how to learn, and teaching our students this, it is such a big win for all of us’ – Patrice Bain
In the second part of her three-part vlog series, Patrice Bain, an experienced educator, speaker, and author, delves into the cognitive strategies featured in her book 'Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning.' These strategies have earned the nickname "power tools" due to their remarkable effectiveness. She emphasises that adopting these powerful cognitive strategies is … Continue reading ‘Too often, we as teachers do not give the students the tools to discriminate what they know from what they don’t know…..Simply by learning how to learn, and teaching our students this, it is such a big win for all of us’ – Patrice Bain
‘We as teachers are taught how to teach but it is really rare that we learn how our students learn, delving into the science of learning’ – Patrice Bain
In the first part of her three-part vlog series, Patrice Bain, an experienced educator, speaker, and author, sheds light on the phenomenon she coined as 'the fad of the semester club' regarding professional development sessions. Throughout her teaching career, she noticed a recurring pattern in professional development sessions every semester. Each session introduced a new … Continue reading ‘We as teachers are taught how to teach but it is really rare that we learn how our students learn, delving into the science of learning’ – Patrice Bain
‘We need to find those novel ways of introducing the curriculum, and doing it in ways that arouse their curiosity…we have to allow the students to experience the curriculum themselves. Traditional teaching is not conducive to learning. Being shown or told something doesn’t create strong memory traces’ – Liz Keable
In the third part of her three-part vlog series, Liz Keable, an experienced educator and parent, points out that in order to enhance learning outcomes, it is crucial to explore fresh and innovative approaches when introducing the curriculum. By captivating students' curiosity and providing opportunities for them to explore and engage with the ideas that … Continue reading ‘We need to find those novel ways of introducing the curriculum, and doing it in ways that arouse their curiosity…we have to allow the students to experience the curriculum themselves. Traditional teaching is not conducive to learning. Being shown or told something doesn’t create strong memory traces’ – Liz Keable
‘The greatest influencing factor to achievement is what the learner brings with them into any learning situation: what they are carrying with them inside their heads….but the teacher can’t go there….. the teacher doesn’t know what is going on inside their heads, and yet that is what is influencing the learning to the greatest extent’ – Liz Keable
In the second part of her three-part vlog series, Liz Keable, an experienced educator and parent, delves into how the learner's prior knowledge and experiences play a significant role in their achievement in any learning situation. It's what they carry inside their minds that truly impacts their learning outcomes. However, teachers face a limitation—they can't … Continue reading ‘The greatest influencing factor to achievement is what the learner brings with them into any learning situation: what they are carrying with them inside their heads….but the teacher can’t go there….. the teacher doesn’t know what is going on inside their heads, and yet that is what is influencing the learning to the greatest extent’ – Liz Keable
‘When students use metacognition, they become tremendously empowered as learners because they begin to be able to teach themselves’ – Liz Keable
In the first part of her three-part vlog series, Liz Keable, an experienced educator and parent, delves into the realm of metacognition and shares practical strategies that can be implemented by both parents and teachers. With a deep understanding of the importance of metacognitive skills in fostering effective learning, Liz provides valuable insights and techniques … Continue reading ‘When students use metacognition, they become tremendously empowered as learners because they begin to be able to teach themselves’ – Liz Keable
Recording Webinar 3 – ‘Connect to Learning’ Series: Facts and Myths about Dyscalculia – Prof. Jo Van Herwegen
Dr. Jo Van Herwegen Bio Dr Jo Van Herwegen is an associate professor at UCL Institute of Education and director of the Child Development and Learning Difficulties lab. She is a member of the Management Committee for the Centre for Educational Neuroscience (CEN) and member of the Executive Committee for the European Association for Research … Continue reading Recording Webinar 3 – ‘Connect to Learning’ Series: Facts and Myths about Dyscalculia – Prof. Jo Van Herwegen
Why Attention Matters for Students – Dr. Erika Galea
What is it to ‘pay attention’? Why is it that sometimes I can be having a conversation when all of a sudden my attention is called elsewhere, only to come back to realise that I need to respond to something that I missed? What was it that initially drew my attention away from what I … Continue reading Why Attention Matters for Students – Dr. Erika Galea
Educational Neuroscience – Online Seminars for Educators and Parents
The Faculty of Education within the University of Malta, in collaboration with the Educational Neuroscience Hub Europe and the Centre of Educational Neuroscience UCL/Birbeck, is presenting another series of seminars for educators (including teachers, LSEs, support services staff and educational leaders) and parents. Series 3 will focus on presenting pertinent areas in the science of … Continue reading Educational Neuroscience – Online Seminars for Educators and Parents