Curated Resources

Research is impacting development of innovative tools, and platforms that are reshaping how we can learn. Our Curated Work section highlights initiatives that aid and inform traditional approaches to education, providing valuable insights and practical strategies for learners, educators, and researchers alike.

Here, you’ll find a carefully selected collection of resources designed to enhance learning, boost focus, and optimize productivity. This collection attempts to bridge the gap between cognitive science and effective education.

Down arrowVisual learning

You can supplement your educational journey with Brilliant. Brilliant offers interactive and engaging courses that support active learning strategies. The courses offered are related to math, science, logic, analysis and programming.

Imprint is an app that focuses on visuals to explain topics. Almost all such helpful tools should be taken with a grain of salt as they are usually not peer reviewed to be significant aid to learning.

Down arrowProductivity

In the age of technology, distraction is a constant problem. Freedom is a cross-platform app that allows you to block websites and apps to avoid being distracted. A similar service is offered by RescueTime, supporting goal tracking. You can also use built in tools in iPhone and Android to limit your screen time.

Simple services like Pomofocus allow you to run a timer for focusing window, if you are not using a physical timing device.

Windows 11 also offers a simple built in pomodoro timer under clock settings.

There are audio devices available online that generate white, brown or pink noise as background noise. Some people find such background noises helpful for maintaining focus. You can also find these sounds on Spotify and YouTube among other platforms.

If you fancy technology, you can replace your traditional calendar with online schedulers and tools like Notion.

Sectograph is an app that allows you to view your daily schedule on a clock like interface on your mobile phone.

A lot of AI powered tools in the market are currently (at the time of writing) focusing on RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) to parse large documents and respond to queries related to the document. To query and get required response to questions from documents thus becomes a convenient study tool. A lot of similar services, including flashcards generation and note summarization are being offered by StudyFetch, Mindgrasp, StudyLabAI among others.

Down arrowBooks

Barbara Oakley is a trailblazer in merging neuroscience with practical learning strategies. Renowned for books like A Mind for Numbers, Uncommon Sense Teaching and Learning How to Learn, she decodes how our brains absorb information, offering science-backed tips to conquer procrastination, master tough subjects, and teach more effectively. You can check out her books at her website.

Make It Stick by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel is a groundbreaking guide to evidence-based learning strategies. It debunks common myths (like cramming or passive rereading) and champions techniques such as spaced repetition, retrieval practice, and interleaving, all rooted in cognitive science. Highly recommended for students, professionals, and educators seeking to transform how they absorb and retain knowledge. Read more at their official website.

William Spady is a pioneering force in U.S. educational reform, renowned for championing Outcome-Based Education (OBE). His work emphasizes designing education systems around clear, measurable goals that prioritize student mastery over rote learning. Spady’s frameworks, like those in his seminal book Outcome-Based Education: Critical Issues and Answers, have influenced curriculum design and policy, urging schools to align teaching with real-world competencies. Although outcome based education is a case for the educational industry, mostly not associated with cognitive science of learning, we believe effective learning has to be absorbed in modern day educational settings, whether it follows outcome based education or reaches beyond it. Spady’s resources are available on his website.

Down arrowFlashcards

Anki and Quizlet are arguably the most popular tools for creating and using flashcards for memorization. Anki in particular has a much-liked spaced mechanism that pops up questions periodically for memorization.

Down arrowGames

It has been reported that video games improve perceptual attention skills. First person shooter game Unreal Tournament was found to enhance useful filed of view, contrast sensitivity, task switching and enumeration. Popular puzzle game Tetris has found to improve spatial skills like 2D mental rotation.

Researchers have found World of Warcraft to improve Stroop effect among test subjects. Note that an off-the-shelf brain training game may have no actual effect on up skilling the brain. As reference, a popular game Portal 2 has been found to be effective to improve spatial skills, problem solving and persistence, in contrast to a brain training game Lumosity.

Down arrowBlogs

Brainfacts is your go-to hub for unraveling the wonders of the brain. Backed by neuroscience experts, this platform dives into everything from how we learn and form memories to how the brain manages emotions, senses, and daily challenges. Its clear, science-backed articles and interactive tools make complex topics accessible to everyone

Down arrowSleep

Dr. Matt Walker’s website Sleep Diplomat presents easy to understand reasons why you should value your sleep. In his podcasts and other resources, he primarily discusses the role of sleep on your health, including how it affects your learning and behavior.