ATI – Learning About Learning

Scientists at Harvard University conducted an experiment several years ago in order to assess the cognitive abilities of some of the brightest students in America. The study was performed by two psychologists who were testing the possibility that we are much less aware of our worlds than we think.

At ATI here in Las Vegas we tend to think our students are pretty bright too, so we encourage you to try The Monkey Business Illusion here: https://goo.gl/D23Yba

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Spoiler Alert Below!

In this experiment a number of seemingly noticeable (and somewhat outrageous) occurrences go completely unnoticed by many people. Some of these things include…

1. The huge gorilla that walks through the middle of the game (missed by approximately 50% of participants).
2. The curtain that changes color (missed by about 75% of participants).
3. The player who is taken out of the game (missed by about 75% of participants).

So what is the point of this is, and how does it affect ATI students?

1. The take home message: we can easily miss what is right in front of us. We are aware of the things we have noticed, but not aware of the things we have missed. This leaves us with the assumption we always notice everything.
2. The assumption that we notice everything when in fact we don’t is more than problematic when it comes to fights with our significant other. At ATI we think this plays an important role in learning, too! We want our students to know that even when they’re paying attention, it is possible to miss important information.

So what do we suggest?

Learning is a process, and it is impossible to absorb all of the important details on your first try. In The Monkey Business Illusion the majority of us absorb only a small fraction of the events. This same logic applies in the classroom, which should serve as a reminder that we need to rely on more than just our memory of lecture. We suggest that our students consult their notes, engage in peer study, ask questions, and read course texts in order to gain a more complete understanding of the content, perform better on exams, and hopefully land that dream job after graduation!

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