Learning Strategies

Question 1

What is Retrieval Practice?

Answer 1

Retrieval Practice

Self testing, quizzes and tests that make you do the work of remembering something accurately. It’s like you are on one side of the brain and you have to find a way to the other side of the brain where the information you need is stored. The act of finding your way there strengthens the memory and makes it easier to find next time.

Question 2

What is Spaced Retrieval Practice about?

Answer 2

Spaced Retrieval Practice

It means self testing when you are beginning to forget a bit. It’s not massed practice. When you self test it boosts the knowledge back up and each time you do it, it degrades more slowly. Way more effective than learning, forgetting, cramming.

Question 3

What is Interleaved Learning?

Answer 3

Interleaved Learning means mixing up related topics. Rather than massed practice of a single skill, Interleaving related subjects enhances connections and usefulness and later recall. It is harder work switching more often and feels counter intuitive because of the rapid, if forgettable progress you seem to make with massed practice.

Question 4

How can you use Elaboration as a technique for learning?

Answer 4

Elaboration

Find additional layers of meaning and make more connections to new material. Take the idea further, work out links to other ideas, think of other examples that demonstrate the principle.

Question 5

How is Generation used?

Answer 5

Generation is trying to solve the problem before being shown the answer. It’s harder work and can feel a bit aimless but makes the brain much more receptive to finding out and connecting the real answer.

When you wrestle with the problem for a little bit before learning the standard answer you get it much quicker and retain it better.

Question 6

What’s going on with Reflection?

Answer 6

Reflection = a combination of retrieval practice and elaboration.

Think through what was learned / experienced and how it could have been better / more productive / applied to different scenarios.

Question 7

Calibration?

Answer 7

Calibration

Avoid illusions of knowing! Test yourself or get someone to watch you and give feedback. Get a fresh angle on what you really know and to show up your unknown unknowns.

Question 8

What’s the best way to read something new?

(An article, blog or even a chapter)

Answer 8

The best way to read something new

1. Preview the material - make quick notes on what you think it will say (generation)
2. Flick through it to get an idea of it’s structure - where it’s going.
3. Read it mostly pretty quick - slow down where it looks tricky or new.
4. Review what you’ve just read and self test by writing down key points (retrieval and calibration)
5. Think about whether this is practice changing / applicable to you / useful to teach others. (retrieval and elaboration)

Question 9

Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning

Answer 9

Question 10

What’s the SQ3R Method of reading new material?

Answer 10

Survey

Question

Read

Recite

Review