Matt Bury, MA Online & Distance Ed & AppLing 🇪🇸
@matbury.bsky.social
MA Online & Distance Education & Applied Linguistics | ELT, CALL, Instructional Design, & Moodle 🇬🇧 🇪🇸 🇪🇺 https://matbury.com/
Reposted by Matt Bury, MA Online & Distance Ed & AppLing 🇪🇸
📣 "Linguistic Knowledge and Language Use" (CUP, 2024) now in Paperback!
The book is Open Access & can be downloaded for free from CUP's website. But if you prefer physical copies, this might interest you as it is 4x cheaper than the Hardback format!
Here: doi.org/10.1017/9781...
The book is Open Access & can be downloaded for free from CUP's website. But if you prefer physical copies, this might interest you as it is 4x cheaper than the Hardback format!
Here: doi.org/10.1017/9781...
February 18, 2026 at 5:31 PM
📣 "Linguistic Knowledge and Language Use" (CUP, 2024) now in Paperback!
The book is Open Access & can be downloaded for free from CUP's website. But if you prefer physical copies, this might interest you as it is 4x cheaper than the Hardback format!
Here: doi.org/10.1017/9781...
The book is Open Access & can be downloaded for free from CUP's website. But if you prefer physical copies, this might interest you as it is 4x cheaper than the Hardback format!
Here: doi.org/10.1017/9781...
Reposted by Matt Bury, MA Online & Distance Ed & AppLing 🇪🇸
The persistent and seductive appeal of discovery learning, despite its limitations and failures, reflects a mix of cognitive biases, ideological commitments, and cultural narratives rather than any strong empirical support. #EduSky
www.kirschnered.nl/2025/03/30/t...
www.kirschnered.nl/2025/03/30/t...
The Seductive Appeal of Discovery Learning - kirschner-ED
The idea that children learn better if they discover something themselves is attractive for many different reasons, in spite of the fact that empirical research tells a different story.
www.kirschnered.nl
February 16, 2026 at 7:39 PM
The persistent and seductive appeal of discovery learning, despite its limitations and failures, reflects a mix of cognitive biases, ideological commitments, and cultural narratives rather than any strong empirical support. #EduSky
www.kirschnered.nl/2025/03/30/t...
www.kirschnered.nl/2025/03/30/t...
If LLM-generated lesson plans or curricula are better or just equal to your own, it doesn't mean you should use them instead, it means you have some hard work ahead of you to improve your instructional design abilities.
Don't accept mediocrity.
Don't accept mediocrity.
February 14, 2026 at 12:33 PM
If LLM-generated lesson plans or curricula are better or just equal to your own, it doesn't mean you should use them instead, it means you have some hard work ahead of you to improve your instructional design abilities.
Don't accept mediocrity.
Don't accept mediocrity.
Re: AI & LLMs in education, tech bros selling their products are like being on a date with someone who stalks you, is inappropriately intrusive, pushy, & manipulative, doesn't listen, & won't take no for an answer.
Pretty creepy when you think about it.
Pretty creepy when you think about it.
February 14, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Re: AI & LLMs in education, tech bros selling their products are like being on a date with someone who stalks you, is inappropriately intrusive, pushy, & manipulative, doesn't listen, & won't take no for an answer.
Pretty creepy when you think about it.
Pretty creepy when you think about it.
If you want to know why unaided independent studying, reading, & writing are so important for cognitive development & learning, this book will not only inform you but show you how to practise in optimal ways:
www.cambridge.org/gb/universit...
www.cambridge.org/gb/universit...
Learning as a Generative Activity | Cambridge University Press & Assessment
www.cambridge.org
February 13, 2026 at 6:27 PM
If you want to know why unaided independent studying, reading, & writing are so important for cognitive development & learning, this book will not only inform you but show you how to practise in optimal ways:
www.cambridge.org/gb/universit...
www.cambridge.org/gb/universit...
Reposted by Matt Bury, MA Online & Distance Ed & AppLing 🇪🇸
another great paper from @mh-christiansen.bsky.social, showing that non-constituents* can be primed
It's more evidence that traditional linguists were mistaken to believe memory was in short supply:
Human memory is compressed, clustered, implicit and vast
It's more evidence that traditional linguists were mistaken to believe memory was in short supply:
Human memory is compressed, clustered, implicit and vast
@adelegoldberg.bsky.social Have you seen this?
Nielsen, Y. A., & Christiansen, M. H. (2026). Evidence for the representation of non-hierarchical structures in language. Nature Human Behaviour, 1–10. doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Nielsen, Y. A., & Christiansen, M. H. (2026). Evidence for the representation of non-hierarchical structures in language. Nature Human Behaviour, 1–10. doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Evidence for the representation of non-hierarchical structures in language - Nature Human Behaviour
Language is often thought to be represented through hierarchically structured units. Nielsen and Christiansen find that non-hierarchical structures are present across reaction-time tasks, eye-tracked ...
doi.org
February 9, 2026 at 1:12 PM
another great paper from @mh-christiansen.bsky.social, showing that non-constituents* can be primed
It's more evidence that traditional linguists were mistaken to believe memory was in short supply:
Human memory is compressed, clustered, implicit and vast
It's more evidence that traditional linguists were mistaken to believe memory was in short supply:
Human memory is compressed, clustered, implicit and vast
@adelegoldberg.bsky.social Have you seen this?
Nielsen, Y. A., & Christiansen, M. H. (2026). Evidence for the representation of non-hierarchical structures in language. Nature Human Behaviour, 1–10. doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Nielsen, Y. A., & Christiansen, M. H. (2026). Evidence for the representation of non-hierarchical structures in language. Nature Human Behaviour, 1–10. doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Evidence for the representation of non-hierarchical structures in language - Nature Human Behaviour
Language is often thought to be represented through hierarchically structured units. Nielsen and Christiansen find that non-hierarchical structures are present across reaction-time tasks, eye-tracked ...
doi.org
February 9, 2026 at 12:51 AM
@adelegoldberg.bsky.social Have you seen this?
Nielsen, Y. A., & Christiansen, M. H. (2026). Evidence for the representation of non-hierarchical structures in language. Nature Human Behaviour, 1–10. doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Nielsen, Y. A., & Christiansen, M. H. (2026). Evidence for the representation of non-hierarchical structures in language. Nature Human Behaviour, 1–10. doi.org/10.1038/s415...
The pernicious intrusion into & effects on research of big tech is compromising our ability to understand what is really happening to all of us.
See: Industry Influence in High-Profile Social Media Research arxiv.org/abs/2601.11507
See: Industry Influence in High-Profile Social Media Research arxiv.org/abs/2601.11507
Industry Influence in High-Profile Social Media Research
To what extent is social media research independent from industry influence? Leveraging openly available data, we show that half of the research published in top journals has disclosable ties to indus...
arxiv.org
February 8, 2026 at 3:28 PM
The pernicious intrusion into & effects on research of big tech is compromising our ability to understand what is really happening to all of us.
See: Industry Influence in High-Profile Social Media Research arxiv.org/abs/2601.11507
See: Industry Influence in High-Profile Social Media Research arxiv.org/abs/2601.11507
*How you really can't trust tech bros & their marketing teams*
ChatGPT is "hallucinating" again. I deleted my entire chat history a few days ago... & yet it tells me:
ChatGPT is "hallucinating" again. I deleted my entire chat history a few days ago... & yet it tells me:
February 7, 2026 at 4:53 PM
*How you really can't trust tech bros & their marketing teams*
ChatGPT is "hallucinating" again. I deleted my entire chat history a few days ago... & yet it tells me:
ChatGPT is "hallucinating" again. I deleted my entire chat history a few days ago... & yet it tells me:
Reposted by Matt Bury, MA Online & Distance Ed & AppLing 🇪🇸
Ever wondered how the Dalmatian Dog effect works?
The human brain can quickly learn from a single experience and generalize it to related experiences — an impressive feat so far not matched by AI.
Our new paper in @natcomms.nature.com reveals how this works.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The human brain can quickly learn from a single experience and generalize it to related experiences — an impressive feat so far not matched by AI.
Our new paper in @natcomms.nature.com reveals how this works.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 4, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Ever wondered how the Dalmatian Dog effect works?
The human brain can quickly learn from a single experience and generalize it to related experiences — an impressive feat so far not matched by AI.
Our new paper in @natcomms.nature.com reveals how this works.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The human brain can quickly learn from a single experience and generalize it to related experiences — an impressive feat so far not matched by AI.
Our new paper in @natcomms.nature.com reveals how this works.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Well worth a read!
Doing things doesn't necessarily lead to learning things. Students may look like they're competent & knowledgeable but that's just an illusion; they may be merely following instructions &/or "aping" competent-like behaviour.
Doing things doesn't necessarily lead to learning things. Students may look like they're competent & knowledgeable but that's just an illusion; they may be merely following instructions &/or "aping" competent-like behaviour.
February 3, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Well worth a read!
Doing things doesn't necessarily lead to learning things. Students may look like they're competent & knowledgeable but that's just an illusion; they may be merely following instructions &/or "aping" competent-like behaviour.
Doing things doesn't necessarily lead to learning things. Students may look like they're competent & knowledgeable but that's just an illusion; they may be merely following instructions &/or "aping" competent-like behaviour.
A brief summary of how to create the necessary & sufficient conditions for teaching & learning to thrive: educationrickshaw.com/2026/01/31/w...
What You Might Not Know About Project Follow Through
People often ask me to talk about Project Follow Through, a landmark federally funded study that compared major approaches to teaching young children at scale. They tell me they enjoy hearing …
educationrickshaw.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:20 PM
A brief summary of how to create the necessary & sufficient conditions for teaching & learning to thrive: educationrickshaw.com/2026/01/31/w...
The automatically generated Google NotebookLM infographic has become the "word cloud" of the 2020s.
January 31, 2026 at 8:12 PM
The automatically generated Google NotebookLM infographic has become the "word cloud" of the 2020s.
RIP Sly Dunbar, 1952-2026. A legend & one of the most influential drummers of all time.
January 26, 2026 at 7:19 PM
RIP Sly Dunbar, 1952-2026. A legend & one of the most influential drummers of all time.
Reposted by Matt Bury, MA Online & Distance Ed & AppLing 🇪🇸
I think we're currently in the "radium skin cream" phase with AI.
When we discovered radioactivity, people tried to cram into everything, and it didn't end well.
AI is a discovery at least as important as radioactivity, and at least as dangerous.
When we discovered radioactivity, people tried to cram into everything, and it didn't end well.
AI is a discovery at least as important as radioactivity, and at least as dangerous.
January 25, 2026 at 10:16 PM
I think we're currently in the "radium skin cream" phase with AI.
When we discovered radioactivity, people tried to cram into everything, and it didn't end well.
AI is a discovery at least as important as radioactivity, and at least as dangerous.
When we discovered radioactivity, people tried to cram into everything, and it didn't end well.
AI is a discovery at least as important as radioactivity, and at least as dangerous.
I've had issues with taking self-report questionnaires at face value in education for some time now.
This study is just one example of how learning processes are frequently not available to the conscious awareness of learners & that we have to find more valid & reliable ways of gathering evidence
This study is just one example of how learning processes are frequently not available to the conscious awareness of learners & that we have to find more valid & reliable ways of gathering evidence
New study on cognitive load shows it's not a single, stable thing that students carry through a lesson. It rises, falls, peaks, and interacts with motivation. 1/4
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
January 20, 2026 at 12:53 AM
I've had issues with taking self-report questionnaires at face value in education for some time now.
This study is just one example of how learning processes are frequently not available to the conscious awareness of learners & that we have to find more valid & reliable ways of gathering evidence
This study is just one example of how learning processes are frequently not available to the conscious awareness of learners & that we have to find more valid & reliable ways of gathering evidence
Re: the Dunning-Kruger effect from using LLMs, I think that's certainly part of it, i.e. that novices assume they're more competent than they are because they don't yet know how little they know. ...
January 18, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Re: the Dunning-Kruger effect from using LLMs, I think that's certainly part of it, i.e. that novices assume they're more competent than they are because they don't yet know how little they know. ...
Please sign this petition & help #denmark buy #california. They promise universal healthcare, rule of law, & all the Danish pastries Trump can eat: denmarkification.com
Help Denmark Buy California – Because Why Not?
Buy it from Trump, the bigliest crowdfunding ever
denmarkification.com
January 18, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Please sign this petition & help #denmark buy #california. They promise universal healthcare, rule of law, & all the Danish pastries Trump can eat: denmarkification.com
The burden of proof fallacy: Idiots make a claim but you have to disprove/debunk it.
It's the person who's making the claim that has to provide the evidence/proof.
Otherwise, in the next press conference, they'll claim that Ibuprofen causes ADHD.
It's the person who's making the claim that has to provide the evidence/proof.
Otherwise, in the next press conference, they'll claim that Ibuprofen causes ADHD.
January 17, 2026 at 2:25 AM
The burden of proof fallacy: Idiots make a claim but you have to disprove/debunk it.
It's the person who's making the claim that has to provide the evidence/proof.
Otherwise, in the next press conference, they'll claim that Ibuprofen causes ADHD.
It's the person who's making the claim that has to provide the evidence/proof.
Otherwise, in the next press conference, they'll claim that Ibuprofen causes ADHD.
@adelegoldberg.bsky.social I think you'll enjoy this paper on the differences & implications of human cognition vs. LLMs from an epistemological basis: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
OSF
doi.org
January 5, 2026 at 9:47 AM
@adelegoldberg.bsky.social I think you'll enjoy this paper on the differences & implications of human cognition vs. LLMs from an epistemological basis: doi.org/10.31234/osf...
It looks like this company's mission is to become the Amazon of education... because Amazon's business model has worked so well for its workers' rights & working conditions, right?
December 27, 2025 at 10:22 AM
It looks like this company's mission is to become the Amazon of education... because Amazon's business model has worked so well for its workers' rights & working conditions, right?
Book on Speech Act Theory from Cambridge. Free until the end of this month! www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Speech Act Theory
Cambridge Core - Semantics and Pragmatics - Speech Act Theory
www.cambridge.org
December 26, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Book on Speech Act Theory from Cambridge. Free until the end of this month! www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Happy Winter Solstice, everyone!
December 21, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Happy Winter Solstice, everyone!
As usual, @carlhendrick.substack.com provides valuable insights on learning &, in this case, that are particularly relevant to popular language learning apps:
Read the article: carlhendrick.substack.com/p/why-most-e...
Read the article: carlhendrick.substack.com/p/why-most-e...
December 20, 2025 at 12:03 PM
As usual, @carlhendrick.substack.com provides valuable insights on learning &, in this case, that are particularly relevant to popular language learning apps:
Read the article: carlhendrick.substack.com/p/why-most-e...
Read the article: carlhendrick.substack.com/p/why-most-e...
I guess one silver lining from the abuse of LLMs by students is that teachers & faculty are taking a lot more interest in the science of learning!
December 16, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I guess one silver lining from the abuse of LLMs by students is that teachers & faculty are taking a lot more interest in the science of learning!