Make It Stick
Peter C. Brown, Mark A. McDaniel, Ph.D., Henry L. Roediger III, Ph.D.
18 min
8 Key Points
4.6 RateWhat's inside?
Discover the science behind successful learning and apply proven strategies to enhance your ability to learn, remember, and master new skills or information.
You'll learn
1. What's the science behind remembering stuff?2. Tricks to learn faster and remember longer3. Busting myths about learning4. Real-life hacks for better learning5. Why self-testing is a game-changer in learning6. Making tough topics easy to understand and remember.Key points
01Don't just study, study smart!
Let's talk about learning. You know, that thing we all do but often struggle with. We've all been there, cramming the night before an exam or re-reading a textbook until our eyes glaze over. But what if I told you there's a better way? A way that's backed by science and can help you remember more, for longer. Sounds good, right? Let's dive in. First up, let's talk about memory. Not the short-term kind, but the long-term one. The one that holds onto information for more than a few minutes. Instead of trying to stuff all the information into your brain at once, try to spread it out. Revisit the material regularly, like a few chapters a day if you're studying a textbook. Then, at the end of the week, review what you've learned. This helps to strengthen the brain's connections to that information, making it easier to recall later. Next, let's talk about self-testing. This is where you test your knowledge before you feel like you've got it all down. It's like a reality check for your brain. After reading a chapter, try to write a summary from memory or answer some practice questions. This can help you spot any gaps in your understanding and forces you to think more deeply about the material. Now, let's address the elephant in the room: the illusion of knowledge. This is when you think you understand something, but you really don't. It's a sneaky little thing that can stop you from realizing when you need to study more. To beat it, you need to be honest with yourself about what you don't know and regularly test your understanding. Lastly, let's mix things up with some interleaved and varied practice. This is just a fancy way of saying don't study the same thing in the same way for too long. Keep your brain on its toes by switching between different types of study activities and topics. If you're studying for a math exam, don't just do the same type of problem over and over. Mix it up! So, there you have it. Learning doesn't have to be a slog. By using strategies like activating our long-term memory, self-testing, being honest about what we don't know, and mixing up our study methods, we can make learning more effective and even a little bit fun. So, go forth and learn!
02Learning's a marathon, not a sprint. Plan accordingly
Let's talk about learning. You know, the kind of learning that sticks with you, not just for a day or a week, but for years. The kind that you can recall and use when you need it. It's not about cramming or stuffing your brain with information in one go. That's like trying to fill a leaky bucket - no matter how much water you pour in, it's going to seep out. Think about it. You've probably pulled an all-nighter studying for an exam or tried to learn a new language in a few weeks. Sure, you might feel like you've learned a lot because you've spent so much time on it. But the truth is, that information hasn't really settled in your long-term memory. It's there, but it's not sticking around. So, what's the solution? It's about changing the way we learn. It's about adopting strategies that promote deeper, more lasting learning. These strategies include spaced practice, interleaving, and varied practice. Let's break these down. Spaced practice is all about pacing your study sessions. Instead of one long, grueling session, you break it up into shorter ones spread out over days or weeks. It's like giving your brain a chance to breathe, to process and consolidate the information. Say you're learning to play the piano. Instead of trying to master it in one go, you practice for 30 minutes a day over several weeks. Next up is interleaving. This is about mixing up different topics or skills in one study session. Instead of focusing on one thing at a time, you switch between different things. It might seem harder, but it actually helps you differentiate between concepts and apply them correctly. For instance, if you're studying math, you don't just stick to algebra. You mix it up with some geometry, then go back to algebra. Lastly, we have varied practice. This is about applying what you've learned in different contexts or situations. It's about making your learning flexible and adaptable. Take a basketball player for example. They don't just practice shooting from one spot. They shoot from different positions, under different pressures, using different techniques. This helps them adapt their skills to the unpredictable conditions of a real game. So, while cramming might seem like the quickest way to learn, it's often not the most effective in the long run. By adopting strategies like spaced practice, interleaving, and varied practice, you can promote deeper learning and improve your ability to retain and apply information over time. It's about making learning stick, not just for now, but for the long haul.
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03Embrace the tough stuff, it's where real learning happens
04Don't assume you've got it, test yourself!
05Forget learning styles, focus on effective strategies
06Mess up to level up your learning
07Set the stage for growth to become an expert
08Conclusion
About Peter C. Brown, Mark A. McDaniel, Ph.D., Henry L. Roediger III, Ph.D.
Peter C. Brown is a writer and novelist. Mark A. McDaniel, Ph.D., is a Psychology Professor at Washington University, specializing in memory and cognition. Henry L. Roediger III, Ph.D., is a distinguished Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences, known for his research on human memory.
