Executive functions and how our expert tutors target these

Executive Functions: What are they?

Executive functions are a family of top-down mental processes that make it possible to mentally play with ideas; approach unanticipated challenges with flexibility; take the time to think before acting; resist temptations, and stay focused.

Executive functions are interrelated, and they depend on a neural circuit in which the prefrontal cortex at the front of the brain plays a prominent role. The core executive functions include but are not limited to:

Working memory: Our mental workspace that controls our ability to retain and manipulate pieces of information over short periods of time.

Inhibitory and interference control: Self-control, selective attention, cognitive inhibition, resisting temptations and resisting acting impulsively.

Cognitive flexibility: Thinking “outside the box”, seeing things from different perspectives, and quickly and flexibly adapting to changed circumstances.

Individuals are not born with all of these skills; rather we develop them over time, reaching full maturity in our mid to late-twenties. However, if we haven’t learned how to use them, we will continue to struggle.

The development of executive skills is crucial for learning, development, positive behaviour and good decision making. They are foundational skills for later life and work. Individuals who have executive function challenges might find everyday tasks challenging such as:

• Making plans and prioritising

• Conceptualising how long a task will take

• Keeping track of time

• Getting started on a task

• Staying focused during tasks

• Remaining calm and reflecting on progress

  Put simply, there are about 11 identifiable Executive Function skills we use in day-to-day life. They are:

  1. Organisation

  2. Planning & Prioritisation

  3. Time Management

  4. Task Initiation

  5. Sustained Attention

  6. Goal-Directed Persistence

  7. Emotional Control

  8. Response Inhibition

  9. Flexibility

  10.Working Memory

  11. Metacognition

  Executive Functioning in Action: tutor spotlight

  Camilo is one of our very popular and outstanding tutors specialising in Maths, Physics and Music! Camilo loves the science of patterns and showing his students where these appear in every day life. He is a tutor who helps students feel much more confident with even the trickiest subjects and topics. He is also a great example of a tutor who combines executive function skills in his tutoring practice.

  To improve flexibility Camilo teaches his students more than one method of solving a Maths problem. This allows his students to see the problem from different perspectives, which both improves cognitive flexibility and gives them valuable tools for checking their own work.

  To improve metacognition (self-awareness) Camilo will get students to review the list of topics they’re revising and mark each topic on how confident they feel about it:

  ☑️ - means I’m very confident on that topic

  ? - means I understand the basics but need more practice to feel confident

  X - means I’m not confident at all and need to go through this again with a tutor or teacher

  This also helps with time management as it enables them to focus their time on topics which they feel less confident with

  Camilo also reminds students that making mistakes is an essential part of the learning process and nothing to be ashamed of, therefore strengthening their emotional control