Assessment

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Learning styles are dead. Long live learning strategies.

Nine out of ten teachers believe that students learn better when taught in their preferred learning style yet the literature suggests this “matching hypothesis” has almost no impact on achievement. Nine out of ten teachers can’t be wrong, can they? Learning theorists have research and evidence on their side, but…Read more

Human superpowers: Creative, analytical and critical thinking

Generative AI does not feel the weight of a decision, nor wrestle with the moral ambiguity that defines human experience. A version of this article was first published in Pedleysmiths Blog on 31 August 2025. Back in July 2022, I wrote about the importance of a skill long considered essential…Read more

How authentic is authentic assessment?

Stuart Pedley-Smith explores whether authentic assessment delivers everything it promises. A version of this article was first published in Pedleysmiths Blog on 30 June 2025. There is a saying often attributed to Peter Drucker – “what gets measured gets achieved.” I think the quote is “gets done” but that always…Read more

Meaningful learning starts with making connections

Stuart Pedley-Smith provides practical techniques for anchoring information and creating advance organisers. He suggests ways to use AI tools to personalise learning experiences using Ausubel’s theory of meaningful learning. A version of this article was first published in Pedleysmiths Blog on 30 April 2025. Have you ever stopped to think…Read more

The 5 best exam techniques ever . . .

Stuart Pedley-Smith explores whether authentic assessment delivers everything it promises. A version of this article was first published in Pedleysmiths Blog on 31 December 2024. Although you might think I am using this ‘clickbait grabbing’ headline purely to attract new readers to my blog, which, admittedly, would be nice, you…Read more

The purpose of learning

Stuart Pedley-Smith reflects on 30 years with Kaplan, the professional education company, and asks some fundamental questions, such as what he would share with his younger self. A version of this article was first published in Pedleysmiths Blog on 31 July 2024. I have always thought that wisdom was something…Read more

Cognitive offloading: you can’t outsource thinking

The simple answer is to combat, limit or reduce your dependency on AI and use it to supplement your learning A version of this article was first published in Pedleysmiths Blog on 31 May 2024. As we begin to better understand the capabilities of Generative AI and tools such as…Read more