Education Quote by Edward Lee Thorndike
““Seven Rules Formulated for Teaching Arithmetic: 1) Consider the situation the pupils faces. 2) Consider the response you wish to connect with. 3) Form the bond; do not expect it to come by miracle. 4) Other things being equal, form no bond that will have to be broken. 5) Other things being equal, do not form two or three bonds when one will serve. 6) Other things being equal, form bonds in the way that they are required later to act. 7) Favor, therefore, the situations which life itself will offer, and the responses which life itself will demand. (p. 101)””
About This Quote
Source Book: Educational Psychology, Edward L. Thorndike, 1911
Effective teaching requires aligning tasks with students’ current understanding, desired outcomes, and future applications, while minimizing unnecessary complexity.
In simple terms: Teach by matching tasks to learners’ needs and future use.
Key Takeaway
Design lessons that fit the learner and future goals.
Themes
education
pedagogy
learning design
psychology
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
instructional
strategic
When to use this quote
- classroom teaching
- curriculum development
- training programs
- online courses
Key Concepts
constructivism
scaffolding
transfer of learning
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you ensure each bond truly supports future learning?
- What signs indicate a bond is becoming unnecessary?
A Different Perspective
May overlook individual differences if over‑generalized.
