Want to study smarter, remember more, and achieve better results? In this episode, I share seven proven, research-backed strategies from the science of learning that can help you plan, monitor, and control your own learning like an expert. These are the high-impact study skills that top students use to become their own best teachers – and now you can too!These aren’t quick hacks. They’re evidence-based, high-impact practices drawn from meta-analyses, landmark studies, and decades of research in the learning sciences, and delivered by a learning scientist and high-achieving student, Dr. Luke Rowe. You’ll learn exactly what works for long-term retention and how to apply it to high school, university, and lifelong learning.Along the way, we reconnect each strategy to my 3P Model of Self-Regulated Learning – Planning, Performing, and Pondering – so you can integrate them into your study routine and achieve more with less wasted effort.📚 In this episode, you’ll learn:• How self-assessment with rubrics can raise your grades by giving you the teacher's mindset• Why generating your own questions deepens understanding beyond highlighting and rereading• How retrieval practice boosts long-term memory better than simply rereading, listening, or watching content• The power of thought routines to keep you on track and adaptable• How to use reflective journals and learning logs to uncover your real study habits• Why small-group co-regulation accelerates learning (and how to make it productive)• How spaced practice beats cramming for long-term retention and confidenceWhether you’re a student, teacher, or lifelong learner, these strategies will help you move from passive studying to deliberate, self-directed learning.⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – Intro02:37 – Self-Assessment07:25 – Self-Questioning13:20 – Self-Testing18:53 – Self-Cycling (Thought Routines)23:30 – Self-Evaluation (Strategy Logs)28:38 – Small-Group Learning (Co-Regulation)35:11 – Self-Schedule (Spaced Practice)44:10 – Summary and Outro🎓 About MeI’m Dr. Luke Rowe, PhD in learning sciences. I study human and artfifical intelligence, study skills, motivation, and the science of learning, helping students and educators apply evidence-based strategies to know more, do more, and be more.✅ Want More?🎙️ Listen to the Powerful Learning Podcast on Spotify, Apple, & YouTube Podcasts👍 Like this if you value learning about learning🔔 Subscribe for more on the science of self-regulated learning💬 Comment below with the strategy you’ll try first📢 Share this with someone who wants to level up their learning⸻DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the creator, Luke Rowe, and do not reflect the views or interests of any past, present, or future institutions or employers.

We explore one of the most powerful and underrated concepts in education: Self-Regulated Learning. Backed by decades of research, Self-Regulated Learning goes beyond “study tips” and reveals how expert learners take charge of their thinking, motivation, and environment to master any subject.Drawing on foundational theories, cognitive models, and affective science, this video unpacks what Self-Regulated Learning is, why it matters, and how anyone can become their own best teacher.Along the way, we cover:• What self-regulated learning really means (it’s not just “trying harder”)• Why Self-Regulated Learning is considered a “gift that keeps giving” in the learning sciences• The difference between metacognition and self-regulation• 3 landmark models of Self-Regulated Learning• How learners manage motivation, emotions, and study environments• Practical strategies to plan, perform, and ponder more effectively (Luke's 3P Model)• Why great learners are like "choice architects" of their own learning environmentsWhether you’re a student, educator, or lifelong learner this episode will change how you think about learning.⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – Intro: The Gift That Keeps Giving01:07 – What Is Self-Regulated Learning?04:40 – The Definitions: Zimmerman, Pintrich, Winne05:00 – Model 1: Zimmerman’s Cyclical Model06:12 – Model 2: Pintrich’s MSLQ Framework08:00 – Model 3: Winne & Hadwin’s Cognitive Model09:20 – The 3 Ps: Planning, Performing, Pondering10:30 – Self-Regulated Learning vs. Metacognition: What's the Difference?11:05 – Monitoring & Regulating Affective States (Feelings, Emotions, and Motivation)12:45 – Monitoring & Regulating Your Learning Environment15:00 – Brain Science (Executive Functions)20:30 – Building the Teacher Within21:50 – Recap: Why Self-Regulated Learning Matters🎓 About MeI’m Dr. Luke Rowe, PhD in learning sciences. I study intelligence, motivation, and the science of learning, and my mission is to help students and teachers apply evidence-based strategies to real-world learning: To help them know more, do more, and be more. ✅ Want More?🎙️ Powerful Learning Podcast – on Spotify, Apple, & YouTube Podcasts👍 Like this video if you value learning about learning🔔 Subscribe for more content on the science of self-regulated learning💬 Comment below with how you plan to apply self-regulated learning in your own life📢 Share this with anyone who wants to take charge of their learning journeyDISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the creator, Luke Rowe, and do not reflect the views or interests of any past, present, or future institutions or employers.

We take a critical look at some of the biggest problems with IQ testing: from statistical circularity and cultural bias, to inflated correlations and ethical misuse. Drawing on emerging research, historical controversies, and new theoretical frameworks, we explore 7 major critiques of intelligence measurement today (and a 'BONUS' at the end).💡 Along the way, we cover:• Why many IQ tests may be measuring what they define • The rise of network models and alternatives to Spearman’s g • The shrinking correlations between IQ and life outcomes • How culture, history, and social context shape IQ scores • Why intelligence isn’t fixed and what this means for testing • Messick’s Law and the ethical consequences of testing • And whether practicing IQ tests invalidates them (spoiler: not quite!)If you’ve ever wondered whether IQ tests are valid, reliable, or even meaningful, this video will interest you.⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – Intro: What’s Wrong with IQ Testing?01:45 – Problem 1. Circularity Problem04:25 – Problem 2. Alternative Models of Intelligence08:10 – Problem 3. Inflated Correlations10:38 – Problem 4. Cultural and Linguistic Bias12:35 – Problem 5. Nonlinearity and Diminishing Returns15:13 – Problem 6. Instability Across Lifetimes and Populations19:50 – Problem 7. Messick’s Law and Consequential Validity24:15 – BONUS: Can You Game an IQ Test?29:13 – Outro: Use IQ Tests Like a Tool, Not a Verdict🎓 About MeI’m Dr. Luke Rowe, PhD in learning sciences, and I explore how intelligence, motivation, and evidence-based practices shape learning outcomes. This channel is for teachers, students, and anyone curious about how we learn—and how we can do it better.✅ Want More?🎥 Watch the previous video in this series on intelligence and IQ testing: https://youtu.be/c0nMX41l9Zk?si=SSxt3L_WC7NgipVa🎙️ Powerful Learning Podcast – on Spotify, Apple, & YouTube 👍 Like to support the channel and share the love🔔 Subscribe for more on the science of learning💬 Comment below with your thoughts 📢 Share this with someone questioning the validity of IQ tests (or somebody bragging about how much of a 'genius' they are!)DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the creator, Luke Rowe, and do not reflect the views or interests of any past, present, or future institutions or employers.

In this episode, we take a measured look at the history, science, and ongoing debate surrounding IQ testing. From the early days of phrenology and Galton’s eugenic ideas to the development of modern psychometric models like the Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory, we trace how intelligence has been defined, measured, and contested over time. No pseudoscientific hyperbole;just some balanced, nuanced, and expert-led science. 📚 Chapters:00:00 – Introduction: What is IQ, really?01:20 – The Origins of Intelligence Measurement (and Dark History)04:00 – The First True IQ Test (and Formula)04:40 – The Problems with the 'IQ Formula'05:50 – Norm-Referenced and Standardized IQ Testing 07:20 – Spearman’s g, the 'g factor', and the 'Positive Manifold'09:40 – How to Create and Validate an IQ Test10:41 – IQ Test Example Questions (loaded on your 'g factor')15:10 – The Globalization of IQ Tests (and some UGLY truths)18:20 – Cultural Fairness and Bias in IQ Testing (Fluid vs Crystallised Intelligence)26:30 – The Structure of IQ Today (CHC Theory)26:30 – The Structure of IQ Today (CHC Theory)29:30 – What Do IQ Scores Actually Mean?30:05 – Outro: IQ and Causality CaveatsAlong the way, we consider:*The origins of IQ and its evolution from Binet’s educational aims to Wechsler’s multi-domain models*The varied ways IQ tests have been used—for support, for sorting, and at times, for exclusion*What Spearman’s g actually represents, and how it shaped the structure of modern tests*The distinction between fluid and crystallised intelligence, and why it matters*Some examples of IQ test items that have been scientifically validated to tap your 'g factor'*How modern statistical methods are trying to address longstanding limitations with cultural biasWhether you're a student, teacher, psychologist, or simply interested in the science of human potential, this video offers a thoughtful exploration of what IQ tests can (and can’t) tell us. A Note on Scientific Integrity: If, like me, you’re wary of the pseudoscientific noise that often surrounds topics like intelligence, rest assured that this video has been reviewed for accuracy and balance by Luke Rowe, who holds a Ph.D. on the topic of intelligence, its role in learning and social dynamics, and psychometric testing. The goal is to avoid the two common traps found in popular commentary: the overclaim that IQ explains *everything*, and the counterclaim that IQ explains *nothing*. Both positions are misleading. As is often the case in science, the reality is more complex (and more interesting!). The approach here is grounded in the general consensus of contemporary intelligence research, while acknowledging its many nuances, limitations, and ongoing debates.Want More?Stay tuned for upcoming videos exploring the biggest problems with IQ testing, how we define and measure notions of 'gifted' or 'genius', and how (and whether) we can improve intelligence (even if we can boost our IQ). 🎓 About Me: I’m Luke Rowe, Ph.D. in learning sciences, and I’m passionate about sharing the latest insights from brain and learning science to help you learn, teach, and thrive.👍 Enjoyed the episode? share the love by 'liking' or leaving a positive review. Subscribe 🔔 for more on the science of learning and intelligence.Comment 💬 below with your thoughts or questions.🔗 Stay Connected: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.📢 Share this video with someone who wants to understand intelligence!DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the creator, Luke Rowe, and do not reflect the views or interests of any past, present, or future institutions or employers.

Does intelligence even matter? And what role does IQ play in this? Can we use IQ scores to predict important life outcomes for people and populations? Ever wondered why intelligence matters—and why it’s both powerful and controversial? This podcast tackles these tricky questions by exploring what intelligence means for education, career success, social relationships, health, and even who we choose as partners. From academic debates to real-world impacts, I unpack the evidence, controversies, and why intelligence isn’t the whole story.This is Part 2 in our series on 'Human Intelligence' originally video recorded and uploaded to YouTube here: https://youtu.be/WZzLMGoh-sk

Part 1 is here: https://youtu.be/WsYR9u5etcEWhat You’ll Learn:• Everyday Impacts: How intelligence helps us solve problems, learn, and adapt to life’s challenges.• Education: Why intelligence is a key predictor of school success, achievement, and lifelong learning.• Social Success: People skills, emotional intelligence, and why general intelligence still matters most.• Career and Job Performance: Why GMA is the best single predictor of job performance and training.• Mate Selection: How intelligence shapes who we choose as partners—and why it’s more than a “geeky” trait.• Health and Longevity: The surprising links between intelligence, decision-making, and life expectancy.• Beyond the Numbers: The importance of context, social factors, and character in shaping our lives.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction: Debates and Controversies 02:50 - What Makes 'Good Science'05:50 - Intelligence and Educational Success08:55 - Not Just Book Smarts—Intelligence and Social Success12:50 - Intelligence and Mate Selection16:15 - Intelligence and Health17:20 - Intelligence in Perspective: The Dark Side of IQWhy This Matters:Intelligence is one of the most successful constructs in psychology—but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. From classroom to workplace, from relationships to health, understanding intelligence helps us make sense of human behavior and societal trends. But it’s not the whole story: many other things matter too!Actionable Tips:• Don’t reduce yourself—or others—to a single score.• Recognize intelligence’s role in learning and success, but don’t let it overshadow values like compassion, good character, morality, integrity, honesty, and perseverance.• Approach debates about intelligence with nuance and respect for the science.Further Reading & References:• Deary et al. (2007): Intelligence and Educational Achievement• Schmidt et al. (2016): The Validity and Utility of Selection Methods• Ritchie & Tucker-Drob (2018): Education and Intelligence• Warne & Burningham (2019): g Factor Across Cultures• Gould (1981): The Mismeasure of ManWant More?Stay tuned for upcoming videos and podcasts exploring genius, measuring intelligence, and how (and whether) we can improve it.🎓 About Me: I’m Luke Rowe, Ph.D. in learning sciences, and I’m passionate about sharing the latest insights from brain and learning science to help you learn, teach, and thrive.👍 Enjoyed the Podcast? Like 👍 it to support the channel.Subscribe 🔔 for more deep dives into the science of learning and intelligence.Comment 💬 below with your thoughts or questions.🔗 Stay Connected: Powerful Learning Podcast: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube Podcasts.📢 Share this with someone who wants to understand intelligence!DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the creator, Luke Rowe, and do not reflect the views or interests of any past, present, or future institutions or employers.

What is Intelligence? 🧠Ever wondered what intelligence really means — and why it matters so much for school, work, and life? This episode takes you on a journey from the wax tablets of ancient Greece to modern neuroscience, exploring the story of human intelligence - good, bad, and indifferent.

This is the audio extract. If you'd like to watch the original video, please access it here: https://youtu.be/WsYR9u5etcEWhat You’ll Learn:• A Brief Origin Story: From Plato’s wax tablets to Homer’s epic recitations — plus how Franz Joseph Gall’s theories of brain function and phrenology laid the groundwork for modern neuroscience.• The Science of Measurement: How Binet and Simon’s first intelligence test sparked a revolution, and how Spearman’s ‘g factor’ reshaped our understanding of mental abilities.• Modern Theories: Cattell’s fluid and crystallized intelligence, Carroll’s Three-Stratum Theory, and the integrated CHC model.Five Ways to Think About Intelligence:1. Conceptual Meaning: Complexity, adaptability, and reasoning.2. Measured Meaning: IQ tests — what they really measure.3. Statistical Meaning: Spearman’s ‘g’ factor and psychometrics.4. Biological Meaning: The P-FIT theory and brain efficiency.5. Practical Meaning: Everyday problem-solving and social success.• Challenges to Psychometric g: Why Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory, Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences, and network models have (so far) struggled to dethrone the reigning champ of intelligence research.This is part 1 of a series on human intelligence. If you'd like to see the next video, check it out on the home page under the 'Intelligence' playlist. Chapters:00:00 - Introduction: What is Intelligence?01:10 - The Ancient Roots: Wax Tablets, Homer, and Memory02:20 - Franz Joseph Gall and the Science of the Brain03:30 - Francis Galton: Nature vs. Nurture and Eugenics05:00 - Binet & Simon: The First IQ Test06:40 - Spearman’s g Factor and Modern Statistics08:00 - Cattell, Horn, and Carroll: Theories Collide10:45 - Five Ways to Understand Intelligence14:50 - Challenges to g: Sternberg, Gardner, and Network Models20:00 - Conclusion and What’s NextWant More?Stay tuned for upcoming videos on why intelligence matters for success, the science behind genius, and whether we can actually improve intelligence.🎓 About Me: I'm Luke Rowe, Ph.D. in the learning sciences, and I’m passionate about exploring how intelligence shapes our world and sharing these insights with students, educators, parents, and lifelong learners.👍 Enjoyed the Video? Like 👍 this video to support the channel.Subscribe 🔔 for more deep dives into the science of learning and intelligence.Comment 💬 below with your thoughts or questions.🔗 Stay Connected: Powerful Learning Podcast: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube Podcasts.📢 Share this video with someone who wants to understand intelligence!DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the creator, Luke Rowe, and do not reflect the views or interests of any past, present, or future institutions or employers.

Are we entering an age of Artificial Intelligence… or Human Stupidity?

In this provocative recording, Dr. Luke Rowe takes us on a tour of the most pressing questions in education today. With clarity and balance, he explores how AI is not just transforming how we teach—but threatening how we think. AI poses both risks for stupidity and opportunities for intelligence like we've never seen before.

This is an audio-version of the original video presentation found on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/XFMX9RSodwg

What You’ll Learn:

• How standardisation and mass production could undermine teaching (and our humanity)
• What the “Cognitive Couch Potato” effect means for your brain and learning
• How AI accelerates production at the expense of creativity and individuality
• Whether AI will complement or replace our experience of reality—and why that matters
• Why the future belongs to educators who make AI their slave, not their master
• And the most important choice an educator will ever make: to combine their own intelligence with AI, or risk defaulting into human stupidity by sticking our heads in the sand.


Whether you're a teacher, policymaker, parent or curious learner, this session will challenge your assumptions and invite you to reflect on the choices we face.

00:00 - Introduction: AI or Human Stupidity?
02:00 - Technological Revolutions
06:50 - AI vs Human Intelligence: Key Differences
16:18 - Job Markets in 2030: Created, Destroyed, or Transformed?
24:00 - The Bokanovskification of Education: Mass Production of Knowledge (and Teachers)
35:20 - The Cognitive Couch Potato Effect: Outsourcing Thinking
42:30 - The Sludgification of Education: Ranganath’s Funnel to Mediocrity
51:15 - The Rise of Anti-Reality: When Virtual Replaces Real
59:50 - When Does More becomes Less? Expectation Creep and Jevons’ Paradox
1:03:35 - The Wisdom Era and Fulfilling Promises: Are we the 'Homo Sapiens' (Wise Species)?
1:05:47 - Final Reflections: The Three-Peak Principle and the Future of Education


🎓 About Me:
I'm Dr. Luke Rowe, a university lecturer and learning scientist in Melbourne, Australia. My mission is to empower people through powerful, evidence-based education—whether on YouTube, at university, in classrooms, or conferences.

👍 Like this podcast if it made you think.
🔔 Subscribe for more insights from the learning sciences.

📢 Share this with someone who cares about the future of learning and education.

Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

• X [Twitter] (@LukeIRowe)
• Website (http://www.powerfullearning.net)
• YouTube (@PowerfulLearningHub, with Luke Rowe, Ph.D.)

In this episode (Part 2 of 2), we dive even deeper into the science of intelligence and how Google's Notebook LM measures up. Dr. Luke Rowe continues to put Google's Notebook LM podcast feature to the test, exploring cutting-edge research on how intelligence develops, changes, and can be nurtured throughout life. From the genetics of intelligence to the impact of emotions and brain health, we tackle the science behind what makes us smart—and how we can stay sharp.

In this episode:
✅ The CHC Model of Intelligence
✅ Do Brain Training Apps Really Work?
✅ Intelligence Across the Lifespan
✅ Genetics vs. Environment in Intelligence
✅ Emotional Intelligence (EQ) vs. IQ
✅ Intelligence, Consciousness, and Creativity
✅ Group Differences in Intelligence Research
✅ Brain Health, Cognitive Reserve, and Plasticity
✅ Actionable Strategies to Boost Intelligence

Video Version: You can watch the YouTube video version here: https://youtu.be/NDaNnlEQ3Bg

Whether you're curious about how intelligence evolves or want to apply science-backed strategies to boost your own mental performance, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

📌 Timestamps:
0:00 Intro to Part 2
1:55 CHC model of intellignce
5:00 Brain Training Apps: Do they Work?
11:05 Intelligence Over a Lifetime
17:30 Genetics of Intelligence
21:15 Emotions and Intelligence (EQ vs. IQ)
28:00 Intelligence and Consciousness
30:51 Creative Genius and Intelligence
34:48 Intelligence Cognitive Reserve
37:45 Intelligence and Group Racial Differences
43:22 Does DEI Have a Place in Intelligence Research?
46:42 Brain Health and Staying Sharp
47:15 Boosting Intelligence
51:21 Intelligence and Plasticity (Avoiding Cognitive Decline)
56:07 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

🔔 Subscribe for more science-backed insights on learning, psychology, and human intelligence!

🎓 About Me: I'm Luke Rowe, Ph.D. in learning sciences, dedicated to making the science of learning accessible and practical for everyone. My passion is helping people think, learn, and teach more effectively.

👍 Like this video if you find it helpful!

💬 Comment below with your thoughts or questions.

🔗 Listen to the Powerful Learning Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google/YouTube Podcasts.

📢 Share this podcast with anyone curious about intelligence, learning, and the power of the mind!

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the creator, Luke Rowe, and do not reflect the views or interests of any third parties, including any past, present, or future institutions or employers.

Here are some ways you can follow me on social media and show your support for this podcast:

• X [Twitter] (@LukeIRowe)
• Website (http://www.powerfullearning.net)
• YouTube (@PowerfulLearningHub, with Luke Rowe, Ph.D.)