Séminaire SCALab

Rethinking Executive Function and Working Memory: Understanding the cognitive foundations of learning

Dr Rebecca Gordon

UCL Institute of Education and the Centre for Educational Neuroscience

Why do some children thrive in learning environments while others struggle? This talk presents a programme of research examining the cognitive processes that underpin academic achievement, focusing on executive function and working memory, and their roles in reading and mathematics development. Rebecca will discuss the findings from a range of studies which have investigated how different aspects of children’s working memory can explain educational outcomes. Specifically, her work looks at how we measure these abilities and what that can and cannot tell us about their importance in learning. Findings from a study that challenges the traditional three-component model of executive function will be presented. Rebecca will talk about the importance of considering task demand when trying to understand the abilities that play a role in reading and mathematics attainment. Together, this body of work offers a new perspective on the relationship between executive function, working memory, and learning, with important implications for theory, assessment, and educational practice.