That very best learning method which works efficiently is being neglected by teachers or not taught to students, study says.
The highly inefficient methods such as cramming in a short space of time, summarizing and re-reading are grossly being used over ‘distributed practice,’ which is known for over a hundred years, but yet being neglected.
Distributed practice, one of the most effective strategies involves breaking up learning into short sessions over time.
“I was shocked that some strategies that students use a lot — such as rereading and highlighting — seem to provide minimal benefits to their learning and performance,” said Professor John Dunlosky, Psychology, Kent State University, also one of the study’s author.
Researchers say the practice lets people learn better.
“By just replacing rereading with delayed retrieval practice, students would benefit, Dunlosky added.
These strategies are largely overlooked in the educational psychology textbooks that beginning teachers read, so they don’t get a good introduction to them or how to use them while teaching.”
Why Stubborn Kids Are Likely to Be Successful
References:
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John Dunlosky, Katherine A. Rawson: Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques – Psychological Science in the Public Interest January 2013 vol. 14 no. 1 4-58.
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Improving Students’ Long-Term Knowledge Retention Through Personalized Review: Psychological Science, March 1, 2014 25:639-647