What is the Learning Hub?
The Learning Hub is an initiative by the Department of Psychology to transform the educational experience by applying cutting-edge cognitive science research. Our mission is to help students like you develop effective learning strategies, improve comprehension of complex texts, and enhance exam preparation skills.
Why Should You Participate?
- Innovative Learning Strategies: Learn and apply evidence-based techniques to improve your academic performance.
- Expert Mentorship: Receive specialized mentoring from senior students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance and leadership abilities. These mentors are meticulously selected, highly trained, and closely guided by Dr. Teles to ensure the highest quality and effectiveness of the sessions.
- Small Group Interaction: Benefit from personalized attention in small groups of four to five students, led by senior students.
- Time Commitment: Attend six sessions over the semester, each lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Online Delivery: In addition to in-person sessions, the Learning Hub program is now also offered online through Canvas. Students in the online program receive the same content delivered in six ~1 hour sessions, taught by a sophisticated AI Teaching Assistant.
Questions?
Don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Teles at mt2yq@virginia.edu to learn more about this program!
Ongoing Research Projects
Learning Hub Outcomes
- Focus on analyzing data from past Learning Hub cohorts to assess how students implement the techniques taught, and whether learning and grades improve after completing the program
- Follow-up with participants to gauge whether learning techniques are retained and used long-term, the semester after the intervention was conducted
User Experience Study
- Follow-up interviews conducted with participants from the Learning Hub online program to evaluate the method's engagement, clarity, usability, and learning value
- Aims to improve online delivery of the Learning Hub intervention before scaling to meet the high demand for the program
How Students Use AI Study Tools
- Using data from PSYC 2150 students, this study aims to investigate whether specific study strategies are associated with higher or lower grades, and whether specific uses of AI tools for exam preparation impact students' exam scores
Want to join the Learning Hub?
Find more information on the "Get Involved" page
Presentations:
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Teles, M., (2025). The Learning Hub: A Cognitive-Science-Based Intervention for First-Year Students (Symposium Presentation). LTi Showcase & Learning Design & Technology (UVA), Charlottesville, USA.
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Teles, M., (2025). From Cognitive Science to Classroom Success: Testing a Learning Enhancement Intervention for First-Year Students (Symposium Presentation). Innovations in Pedagogy Summit & Center for Teaching Excellence (UVA), Charlottesville, USA.
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Teles, M., (2025). Advancing Teaching and Learning Through AI and Cognitive Science-Based Intervention (Symposium Presentation). XI EAM Conference & European Association of Methodology, Tenerife, Spain.
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Mitchel, A., Blakeslee, K., and Teles, M., (2025). Improving Students’ Learning Strategies and Academic Outcomes Through a Cognitive Science-Based Intervention. (Poster Presentation). The Reid Conference & Department of Psychology University of Virginia, USA.
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Teles, M., (2024). Assessment of Educational Interventions using generative AI. (Symposium Presentation). International Meeting of the Psychometric Society & Prague, Czech Republic.