Dr Daniel T. Willingham: Why Don’t Students Like School?

2025-07-05

Today’s guest is Dr. Daniel T. Willingham a cognitive scientist, professor, and author whose work bridges the gap between research and the classroom. He’s a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia and the bestselling author of Why Don’t Students Like School?, a go-to book for educators looking to understand how students learn. Dr. Willingham has a rare gift for translating complex science into clear, practical insights. His research focuses on memory, reading, and critical thinking, and he wr...

Today’s guest is Dr. Daniel T. Willingham a cognitive scientist, professor, and author whose work bridges the gap between research and the classroom.

He’s a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia and the bestselling author of Why Don’t Students Like School?, a go-to book for educators looking to understand how students learn.

Dr. Willingham has a rare gift for translating complex science into clear, practical insights. His research focuses on memory, reading, and critical thinking, and he writes regularly for The Washington Post and American Educator.

In 2017, he was appointed by President Obama to the National Board for Education Sciences, recognising his contribution to evidence-based education.

I’m thrilled to share this conversation with Dr. Willingham. Let’s get into it.

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