I highly recommend reading these two papers before proceeding with this site. In fact, if you do nothing else, I recommend skimming these instead of this site.
- The Four Strands (.pdf)
An accessible paper written by Paul Nation, a well-known linguist, on principles of language learning. Very useful for its well-rounded summary of different elements that are important for learners, based on actual research on what works.
Abstract: The activities in a language course can be classified into the four strands of meaning-focused input, meaning-focused output, language-focused learning and fluency development. In a well designed course there should be an even balance of these strands with roughly equal amounts of time given to each strand. The research evidence for the strands draws on the input hypothesis and learning from extensive reading, the output hypothesis, research on form-focused instruction, and the development of speaking and reading fluency. The paper concludes with 10 principles based largely on the four strands. The strands framework and the principles provide a basis for managing innovation in language courses.
Another accessible paper by respected researchers summarizing principles of learning, including spaced retrieval.
Abstract: Recent advances in memory research suggest methods that can be applied to enhance educational practices. We outline four principles of memory improvement that have emerged from research: 1) process material actively, 2) practice retrieval, 3) use distributed practice, and 4) use metamemory. Our discussion of each principle describes current experimental research underlying the principle and explains how people can take advantage of the principle to improve their learning. The techniques that we suggest are designed to increase efficiency—that is, to allow a person to learn more, in the same unit of study time, than someone using less efficient memory strategies. A common thread uniting all four principles is that people learn best when they are active participants in their own learning.
An excellent expansion to the above two papers that discusses multimodal learning, transfer-appropriate processing, relational memory, et cetera.
The website for a book that is an excellent primer.
