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In this episode, we move from understanding schema to actually growing them. “How Forests Grow” is a deep, practical exploration of how the mind organizes knowledge, how conceptual structures form, and how educators can intentionally strengthen those structures so learning becomes lighter, clearer, and more durable.

Through warm storytelling and accessible cognitive science, we unpack the practices that build schema: beginning with big ideas, using comparison tasks, modeling thinking, designing worked examples, guiding with think-alouds, building visual maps, and strengthening understanding over time through gentle revisiting. Drawing on research from Gentner, Rittle-Johnson and Star, Novak, Sweller, and more, this episode shows how schema emerge through connection and structure — not memorization.

Listeners learn why some learners appear confident and others overwhelmed, why tasks feel different depending on pre-existing schema, and why conceptual clarity makes thinking faster and more flexible. We explore how teachers can become “cognitive gardeners,” cultivating schema with purpose rather than hoping they take root on their own.

Perfect for educators, instructional designers, parents, and school leaders, this episode is a practical guide to helping learners make meaning at a deep level.

If you want learning to feel less like wandering and more like navigating, Episode 7 shows you how to grow the forest from the roots up.

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