Why do students find learning so difficult? According to cognitive psychologist Daniel Willingham, it's because the human mind isn't designed for thinking. Instead, our brains are designed to avoid thinking whenever possible by relying on memory, routines, and past experience. And yet, true learning requires and deep and effortful thinking.
Watch the video interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DWSn3km6lCc
In this episode of The Science of Learning, I sit down with Dan Willingham, professor of psychology at the University of Virginia and author of the influential book Why Don't Students Like School?, to explore what decades of cognitive science reveal about how people learn. We discuss why knowledge is the foundation of understanding, why background knowledge is essential for reading comprehension, and why teaching critical thinking can't be separated from building deep knowledge. Dan talks about curiosity, scientific thinking, creativity, and the relationship between knowledge and expertise. Our conversation dives into the really big questions: how students develop understanding and why learning is often more difficult than we expect.
Most of all, this episode offers practical insights for teachers. Whether you're a teacher, professor, student, parent, or simply curious about how the mind works, this episode offers a fascinating introduction to the cognitive science of learning.
About Daniel Willingham
Dr. Willingham is Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. His research focuses on the application of cognitive psychology to K–16 education. He's the author of numerous influential books, including Why Don't Students Like School?, Outsmart Your Brain, When Can You Trust the Experts?, and The Reading Mind.
About The Science of Learning
For video interviews with leading researchers on learning, education, creativity, and cognitive science, subscribe to The Science of Learning YouTube playlist.
For audio interviews, you can find The Science of Learning on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms.
Copyright © 2026 Keith Sawyer
