From Cognitive Science to Physics Education and Back

Principles of learning and performance derived from research in cognitive science can inform how physics is taught and how learning is assessed. At the same time, common practices in physics education can be used to develop better cognitive principles of student learning and understanding. This paper has two main themes. First, we discuss how we can use psychology and neuroscience research regarding how academic anxiety alters thinking and reasoning to help students perform at their best - especially on important tests. Second, we explore how basic principles of learning can be used to develop optimal labs in physics education settings. Finally, we end by discussing how, together, PER and cognitive science can be used to help students perform at their best when it matters most.