Why desirable difficulties are necessary To appreciate why difficulties might actually be desirable, it helps to first understand the distinction between performance, which is observable during ...

Effective learning isn't just about finding the easiest path—it's about the right kind of challenge. Two prominent theories—Desirable Difficulties (DDF) and Cognitive Load Theory (CLT)—offer valuable ...

Emerging research suggests that, contrary to what students may think, material that’s easy to understand is not always easy to learn—and working harder can help them hold on to what they’ve learned.

You can explain to them the science behind desirable difficulty. Here’s something I wrote about the topic for Character Lab as a Tip of the Week: When my daughter Amanda was young and still taking ...

Open to all Tenure/Tenure-Track, TCPL, and instructors. Librarians or staff members who lead or support campus centers are also invited to apply.