10X Your Learning with 6 Simple Tools
Enhance comprehension, retention & academic performance
Use this mnemonic to remember — SIR DECember
Spaced Repetition:
Definition: Spaced repetition is a learning technique where you review material at increasing intervals over time. Instead of cramming all your studying into one session, you strategically space out your review sessions.
How it Works: When you encounter new information, you review it shortly after learning it, then review it again at gradually increasing intervals. This spaced review reinforces your memory and strengthens your retention of the material.
Example: Suppose you’re preparing for a language exam and need to learn vocabulary words. Instead of studying all the words in one long session, you review a set of words today, then review them again in a couple of days. After that, you review them again after a week, then two weeks, and so on. By spacing out your review sessions, you’re more likely to retain the words in your long-term memory.
Benefits: Spaced repetition enhances long-term retention because it capitalizes on the spacing effect, which suggests that information is better remembered when it’s presented and reviewed over spaced intervals rather than all at once.
Interleaved Practice:
Definition: Interleaved practice involves mixing up different types of problems or topics during a study session, rather than focusing on one type of problem at a time.
How it Works: Instead of practicing one type of problem repeatedly until mastery, you switch between different types of problems, which may seem unrelated at first. This forces your brain to continually switch gears and make connections between different concepts.
Example: Let’s say you’re studying for a math exam that covers both algebra and geometry. Instead of spending an hour practicing only algebraic equations, you alternate between solving algebraic equations and geometry problems throughout your study session. By interleaving the two subjects, you’re forced to constantly switch between different problem-solving strategies and concepts.
Benefits: Interleaved practice enhances learning and retention by promoting deeper understanding and better transfer of knowledge. It prevents the “blocking effect,” where studying one topic exclusively can lead to performance improvements in the short term but hinders long-term retention and application of knowledge.
Retrieval Practice:
Definition: Retrieval practice is a learning strategy that involves actively recalling information from memory, rather than simply re-reading or reviewing it. It focuses on bringing information to mind, strengthening the memory trace, and enhancing long-term retention.
How it Works: When engaging in retrieval practice, learners attempt to recall previously learned information without looking at the material. This process of actively retrieving information from memory strengthens neural connections associated with that information, making it easier to recall in the future. Retrieval practice can take various forms, including self-quizzing, flashcards, or completing practice problems.
Example: Let’s say you’re studying for a history exam and have been learning about World War II. Instead of passively re-reading your textbook or notes, you engage in retrieval practice by trying to recall key events, dates, and figures related to the war. You might create flashcards with questions on one side and answers on the other, or you might write out essay responses to practice questions. By actively recalling this information from memory, you strengthen your ability to remember it during the exam.
Benefits: Retrieval practice enhances long-term retention by actively engaging the brain and strengthening memory recall pathways. Research has shown that actively recalling information from memory is more effective for learning and retention compared to passive review methods. Additionally, retrieval practice promotes deeper understanding and application of knowledge, as learners must actively engage with the material to recall it.
Elaboration:
Definition: Elaboration is a cognitive learning strategy that involves expanding upon new information by relating it to existing knowledge or connecting it to real-life examples. It involves actively processing and integrating new information into existing mental frameworks, thereby enhancing comprehension and retention.
How it Works: When employing elaboration, learners seek to deepen their understanding of new concepts by making connections, drawing comparisons, or providing additional details. This process of elaborating on information helps to solidify learning by creating more robust memory traces and strengthening neural connections associated with the new material.
Example: Imagine you’re learning about photosynthesis in biology class. Instead of simply memorizing the steps of the process, you engage in elaboration by connecting it to real-world examples. You might think about how plants use sunlight to produce energy, similar to how solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. By elaborating on the concept of photosynthesis in this way, you deepen your understanding and make the information more meaningful and memorable.
Benefits: Elaboration promotes deeper understanding and retention of information by encouraging learners to engage in higher-order thinking processes. By actively processing and connecting new information to existing knowledge, learners create richer mental representations of the material, making it easier to recall and apply in different contexts. Additionally, elaboration fosters critical thinking skills and promotes transfer of learning, as learners are better able to apply their knowledge to solve new problems or answer novel questions.
Concrete Examples:
Definition: Concrete examples are specific instances or illustrations used to clarify abstract concepts or principles. They provide tangible representations of abstract ideas, making them easier to understand and remember.
How it Works: When incorporating concrete examples into learning, educators or learners identify real-world scenarios or specific instances that exemplify the abstract concept being taught. These examples are used to contextualize the concept, provide relevance, and enhance comprehension. Concrete examples often include vivid details or specific details that help learners visualize and understand the concept more concretely.
Example: Let’s say you’re learning about the concept of supply and demand in economics. Instead of simply defining supply as the quantity of a product that producers are willing to offer at different price levels and demand as the quantity of a product that consumers are willing to purchase at different price levels, your instructor provides concrete examples. They might use the example of a farmer who grows strawberries and how the quantity of strawberries she’s willing to supply increases as the price of strawberries increases due to higher profits. Similarly, they might discuss how consumers’ demand for strawberries decreases when the price increases beyond a certain point, using examples of people buying fewer strawberries when the price is too high.
Benefits: Concrete examples help learners grasp abstract concepts more effectively by providing relatable and memorable illustrations. By grounding abstract ideas in real-world contexts, learners can better understand how these concepts apply in practice. Concrete examples enhance engagement, facilitate deeper understanding, and improve retention by making complex concepts more accessible and relevant to learners’ experiences. They also promote transfer of learning by demonstrating how abstract concepts can be applied in different contexts or scenarios.
Dual Coding:
Definition: Dual coding is a cognitive learning theory that suggests learners process and retain information more effectively when it is presented in both verbal (linguistic) and visual (non-linguistic) formats simultaneously. It involves encoding information using two distinct channels — verbal and visual — which creates multiple pathways for storage and retrieval in the brain.
How it Works: When employing dual coding, educators or learners combine verbal and visual representations of information to enhance comprehension and retention. For example, instead of solely reading a textbook passage, learners might use diagrams, charts, or illustrations to accompany the text. This dual presentation allows learners to process the information through both linguistic and non-linguistic channels, making it more memorable and easier to understand.
Example: Consider a student learning about the solar system in science class. Instead of just reading about the planets and their characteristics, the teacher provides a visual diagram of the solar system with labels for each planet. Additionally, the teacher verbally describes each planet’s features, such as its size, composition, and position relative to the sun. By combining verbal descriptions with visual representations, the student engages both their linguistic and visual processing systems, leading to deeper understanding and better retention of the material.
Benefits: Dual coding enhances learning by capitalizing on multiple cognitive processes simultaneously. By presenting information through both verbal and visual channels, dual coding creates redundancy in encoding, making it more likely that the information will be retained in memory. Additionally, dual coding promotes deeper understanding by providing multiple perspectives or representations of the same concept, catering to different learning styles and preferences. Furthermore, dual coding facilitates mental imagery, which can aid in problem-solving, creativity, and conceptual understanding.
🍁Hope you found this useful
REFERENCE: ^^Teaching the science of learning https://cognitiveresearchjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41235-017-0087-y
