Make It Stick

Make It Stick explores ways to memorize faster and make learning easier, all while debunking myths and common misconceptions about learning being difficult and attributed to those who have highly native cognitive skills, with the help of researchers who’ve studied the science of memory their entire life.

Growing up, we were taught that studying implies repeating the same notion countless times till you get it right. Or that doing the same type of mental exercise will ultimately lead to mastering the subject. However, this approach to studying has proved to be counterproductive and ineffective. In fact, studying by repeating continuously will even fade away in a short period of time.

Repeating will make you feel familiar with the subject and leave you feeling good about yourself while doing it. However, it will give you a false sense of mastery. In fact, you’ll end up having fluency in the domain. And that means that you get what it’s about at that moment. However, you’ll forget the basics quickly and lose control over the knowledge gained.

So what’s the alternative? Isn’t this what we were taught to do growing up? Truth be told, the people who thought about these practices didn’t know better at the time. But luckily, modern studies have got the answer! It seems that by adopting practices like “spaced repetition”, “the testing effect”, elaboration, or tying the information to memories, you too can tap into the secrets of successful learning.

So far we’ve discussed the downsides of repetitive studying. By re-reading and highlighting fragments of your lecture, you’re only subjecting your brain to an increased effort that doesn’t pay off. However, adding a simple, yet effective twist to this practice can change its outcome considerably. Next time you’re struggling to retain something, try repeating paragraphs or bits of information in spaced-out sessions. For example, if you read something and worked on memorizing it for quite some time, give yourself a 10-minute break before repeating it, so that your brain consolidates the information. Instead of doing mindless recitation, think actively about the information you read and try to apprehend it in a way that makes sense to you. You can do so by linking it to something that you already know so that you remember it easier. To just read material and hope it will stick to you is a complete waste of time. To practice retrieval implies giving yourself time to consolidate the information, but that’s not all! Once you close the book, it’s time to ask yourself what you remember. What were the key points of your lecture? And other important aspects you might want to consider. Doing so will activate your brain and make it look for…