Cool article in the NYT about what helps students retain knowledge. Unsurprisingly, the educational establishment hasn't caught up with recent research.
Advice is cheap and all too familiar: Clear a quiet work space. Stick to a homework schedule. Set goals. Set boundaries. Do not bribe (except in emergencies).... Does Junior’s learning style match the new teacher’s approach? Or the school’s philosophy? Maybe the child isn’t “a good fit” for the school.
Such theories have developed in part because of sketchy education research that doesn’t offer clear guidance. Student traits and teaching styles surely interact; so do personalities and at-home rules. The trouble is, no one can predict how.
Yet there are effective approaches to learning, at least for those who are motivated. In recent years, cognitive scientists have shown that a few simple techniques can reliably improve what matters most: how much a student learns from studying.
The findings can help anyone, from a fourth grader doing long division to a retiree taking on a new language. But they directly contradict much of the common wisdom about good study habits, and they have not caught on.
What works, according to the researchers quoted in the article:
- studying the same material in at least two different environments, alternating between them
- studying distinct but related concepts and skills in one sitting (think a musician's practice session, with both scales and musical pieces)
- study sessions on the same material spread out over time
- repeated tests and self-tests, including practice tests and quizzes
The article does not really discuss teacher effectiveness or teaching style, and is all about what the individual learner can do to help himself or herself when studying on his or her own.
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