Collision Detection has a very fascinating article up about the science of studying. Some very interesting bits.
First, cramming is bad for long term recall. I didn’t realize this was up for grabs, actually… wasn’t this known?
Secondly:
Okay, so let’s say you actually do want to remember things for the long-haul. How should you study? Rohrer and Pahsler tested that too. In their next experiment, they gave people crazily different study regimens — some of the subjects studied material repeatedly every 5 minutes (a classic “cramming” regimen), while others reviewed material only every month or so. Then they tested everyone six months after their study sessions. Bingo: The ones who did best had studied the material merely once a month.
Now that, my friends, is interesting. It is no great secret that people learn in different ways and so some styles of learning are always going to be rewarded and others penalized for no better reason than how one processes and retains information. In fact, my near dependence on my particular way of learning information puts me at a distinct disadvantage whenever I am placed in a “brute force positive” learning environment and put me in a very strong position in a “holistic positive” learning environment.
What does this mean, though? Well, I’m sure more research will be done - but I doubt we’ll see significant change in the zeitgeist of learning. It would be nice, of course, but often educators are just as in the dark regarding productive learning as students, stuck in a desperate cycle of rote repetition.
What’s it mean for you, dear reader? Well, any sort of information you want to retain throughout your life… dust out those notes and check them out once a month or so. Go back through and read the portions of books you underlined. Take out those old German flashcards and give them a go.
Study Hack:==> collision detection: Study: “Cramming” hurts your ability to remember stuff in the long term
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