Make it Stick: The Science of Learning

Question 1

What is the most important tool for long term learning?

Answer 1

Effortful recollection is the most important tool for long term learning, especially when spaced out so that a small amount of information is forgotten between revisits

Question 2

How does testing benefit a learner?

Answer 2

Testing benefits a learner in that it forces one to recollect the information, and it shows where a learner needs improvement, allowing one to adjust course

Question 3

How can a learner “shoot an azimuth” or adjust course on their path to mastery of a subject, skill, etc?

Answer 3

Through frequent spaced testing and quizzing

Question 4

Why is a short delay in studying or reviewing a topic beneficial?

Answer 4

A delay in study is beneficial because it increases the difficulty of recollection, the most important aspect in retaining information

Question 5

If difficulty in learning good or bad?

Answer 5

Difficulty is good when learning a subject. It has been shown in studies that greater difficulty in recollection of information strengthens the durability of the memory over the long term

Question 6

What are the benefits of massed practice or “cramming”?

Answer 6

There are no benefits to massed practice other than short term gains in ability and fluency. The progress made is lost very soon

Question 7

Effective learning from quizzing requires what?

Answer 7

Corrective feedback AKA the right answer. Without this one cannot correct “adjust course” and learn from mistakes

Question 8

True or false:

It is beneficial to try to work through a problem before one has been given the information to solve it

Answer 8

True. This forces the mind to recollect the information it has in order to solve the problem. It forces the mind to try to understand the underlying concept of the problem, which is key to being able to remember and use information

Question 9

What is a mnemonic device?

Answer 9

A mnemonic, or memory device is a memorization tool or technique used to facilitate information retrieval

Question 10

How do mnemonic devices benefit learners?

Answer 10

Mnemonic devices benefit learners by helping the student remember fundamental pieces of information such as dates, key terms, etc. They can then group this information into more complicated concepts, which is key to understanding

Question 11

What is “loci?”

Answer 11

Loci is a mnemonic device where one associates pieces of information with a place

Question 12

What does it mean to build a “memory palace?”

Answer 12

This is part of the loci technique, where you will associate pieces of information with a distinct location or object in a location, or “palace”

Question 13

Is it efficient to focus study on all the individual pieces of info?

Answer 13

No

Question 14

How should study be focused?

Answer 14

Study should be focused on the overlying concept that ties individual pieces of information together. The individual pieces are still required to understand however

Question 15

Individual pieces of knowledge can be thought of as_____

Answer 15

Puzzle pieces

Question 16

Is one has confidence in their knowledge of a subject, does this mean they are competent?

Answer 16

No

Question 17

What is the only accurate way to tell what you don’t know?

Answer 17

Quizzing and experience using the information and concepts

Question 18

What are two ways the brain thinks and recalls information?

Answer 18

1. Automatically recalled through experiences and ingrained behaviors
2. Manually through reasoning and recollection of acquired knowledge

Question 19

True or false: Automatically recalled information comes from lessons learned through experience, and is therefore accurate

Answer 19

False. Information that is automatically recalled is not guaranteed to be accurate or relevant. This recollection method can be deceiving

Question 20

True or false: Memory is static

Answer 20

False. Memory can change

Question 21

When is a memory most likely to change?

Answer 21

The more times it is recalled, and when it has emotional significance

Question 22

How does varying and interweaving study topics benefit a learner?

Answer 22

Interweaving and mixing up study topics is beneficial because it gives spacing between recalling the information that strengthens the memory, as well as provides a bigger picture so that the overlying concept is better understood

Question 23

What is meant by the term “memory app?”

Answer 23

This is used to describe how smaller pieces of information can be linked together by a larger concept or “app.” This makes deeper understanding possible, while still retaining more fundamental pieces of information by linking them together

Question 24

Why is does having more in depth knowledge make it harder to teach?

Answer 24

Having a deeper sense of knowledge makes it harder to teach a topic because of the way that fundamentals are linked together to form more complicated concepts. These concepts can start to be seen as fundamental themselves and it makes it harder to convey explain the individual pieces that make up this concept.

Question 25

Who best knows what a student is struggling with?

Answer 25

Another student

Question 26

True or false: Trying to solve a problem before being taught the solution is beneficial

Answer 26

True