Note sull'episodio
Few things are more frustrating than feeling like your brain just won’t hold onto information.
You try to follow directions.
You lose track halfway through.
You ask a question that was just answered.
And eventually, you start wondering if something is wrong with you.
In this episode of Executive Function for All, Brandon sits down with Andrew Watson — former high school teacher, Harvard M.Ed. in Mind, Brain, and Education, and author of Learning Begins — to unpack the science of working memory.
Here’s the hard truth:
Working memory capacity is limited for everyone. And despite what some programs claim, research does not strongly support that we can artificially increase it.
But here’s the hopeful part:
We can design systems that reduce overload and make learning more manageable.
Andrew shares:
• What working memory actually is
• Why it feels so frustrating
• Why low scores are not an academic death sentence
• The 3-question framework: Anticipate. Identify. Solve.
• Signs of overload that look like “not listening.”
• How dual coding (visual + verbal instruction) increases usable capacity
• Why emotional safety matters for cognitive performance
This episode reframes memory struggles from character flaws to capacity constraints.
Learn more about Andrew’s work at: https://translatethebrain.com/
Explore Untapped Learning’s mentoring and free resources: https://untappedlearning.com/
#WorkingMemory #ExecutiveFunction #ADHDSupport #EducationPodcast #UntappedLearning