For thousands of years, people have known that the best way to understand a concept is to explain it to others. "While we teach, we1, "said Roman philosopher Seneca. Now scientists are bringing this ancient wisdom up-to-date. They're2why teaching is such a fruitful way to learn.
Researchers have found that students who teach others work harder to3the material, and apply it more4. Student teachers score higher on tests than pupils who're learning only for themselves. But how can children,5learning themselves, teach others? One answer: They can teach younger kids. Some studies have found that first-born children are more6than their later-born siblings (兄弟姐妹). This suggests their higher IQs result from the time they spend teaching their siblings.
Now educators are experimenting with ways to7this model to schoolwork. They engage college undergraduates to teach computer science to high school students, who then8instruct middle school students on the topic. But the most cutting-edge tool is the "teachable agent"—a computerized character who learns, tries, makes mistakes and asks questions just like a real-world9. Computer scientists have created an animated (动画的)figure called Betty's Brain, who has been "taught" about science by middle school students. Student teachers are motivated to help Betty10certain materials. While preparing to teach, they organize their knowledge and improve their understanding. And as they explain the information to it, they identify problems in their own11.
Feedback from the teachable agent12improves the teachers' learning. The agents' questions drive student teachers to think and explain the materials in different13, and watching the agent solve problems allows the emotions one experiences into action.14, it's the emotions one experiences in teaching that help learning. Student teachers feel15when their teachable agents fail, but happy when these pupils succeed as they gain pride and satisfaction from someone else's achievement.
