Recently, the NY Times published an article in which it was argued that our common beliefs on how to study may actually not be as effective as we think. As we are beginning the school year together, it is interesting to consider this as our first Psychological discussion. What are your reactions to the article? Do you agree or disagree. Why? What else could be contributing to our study/recall of information. Is it just the way we study or could it be something more?
Choose 1 class you have this year that you think would be best suited for a change in study habits. Why? What class(es) would be challenging?
Please read the article and respond by Monday 9/13/10
I find this article very interesting and although it is somewhat of a radical idea, I do believe the concept of it because the experiments are all there to prove it. I am not basing my opinion only on the experiments but also on the explanations of the brain that back them up. I have experienced some of the things in this article firsthand, such as the idea of “riding a bicycle with training wheels,” or in other words memorizing a process when given a worksheet of all the same problems. This method is extremely ineffective and I find myself forgetting the material a day after the test, as the researchers explained usually happens. I don’t believe that these new methods will catch on yet because people are still so stuck to their old ways of studying, but I am going to try them this year because I have nothing to lose.
ReplyDeleteThe experimenters did not take into consideration the hundreds of other things that might be going on in our minds while we try to study. For example, while we attempt to study we are often distracted by phones, TV, facebook, drama, etc. As the researchers stated they were able to control all of these in their experiment and these are the factors that are all interacting when we are trying to study. It is a little more than just the way we study because stress plays a huge role as well as time restraints and dislike of material.
A class that is based on memorization would be best suited for a change not a class like math or science where you actually have to understand the material. I think this year that Spanish would work best with this new methods because there are different aspects to what you have to study- you could practice speaking, reading, or grammar and alternate them. It is a lot of memorizing so the two space thing would work. I think math or science would be too challenging of a class to use this method because you have to actually understand the material and the processes fully, and I find it very difficult to focus on these two subjects considering my dislike of them. I would not have the necessary focus to use these methods for math or science.
I really enjoyed reading this article because a lot of the information I read I could relate to. They were all tested out to be proven true by experiments, but also explained why our minds lead us to do the things we do. I really agreed with the information in this article because it will help me to change some of my study habits. One example is how I should start studying in different rooms every night, etc. Even though I may want to stick to my normally study habits and not change where I should study, I think I should give it a try anyway. I think that studying for an hour each night rather than a longer period of time in one sitting is better. I think that because every night you will review the things you learned the night before as well as add to it with a new topic/ point that are on the test. I also, agree that when studying for a test practicing four or five different types of problems will help me not make mistakes on a bigger test/ assessment because if you do the same type of problem over and over then move onto another problem and do the same thing you are tending to “memorize” the procedure of what to do rather than to ponder and evaluate the problem then do it. If we practice different types of problems and mess up on one we are more likely, I think to remember the mistake and get the question right on the test rather than messing up on one of the questions if you were to practice the same types of problems in a row. I think that how bright the room you are studying in can contribute to our recall of information because light usually can keep the studier in tune and not side tracked if he/ she were to study in a darker, dimmed room. I do thing I should try to change my habits, but I do not think that researchers are considering all the other influences that are effecting and distracting our own studying and study habits. These influences include stress, school (college), friends, sports, and technology. (Phone, computer, and television) The one class this year that I think would be best suited for a change in study habits is English. I need to change the way I study for an English vocabulary test because I fallen into the trap of just memorizing the definition when I see the word rather than understanding and comprehending the definition of a word. The day after I take the test/ quiz, I always forget the definition of the words because I just memorize the words instead of understanding and comprehending the full meaning and context of the words. I think it would be really hard to change both my study habits for math because math is a subject where you can never forget the topic you just learned because you use it as part of the process for the next chapter.
ReplyDeleteThis article was interesting in that it shed light on new and not so customary was of studying for a test. I agree that the advice we receive from parents is “cheap” because many refuse to try out new methods of studying and retaining information. Our society is very against changing processes and idea that have been around for a long time, which explains why the new study habits have not yet fully caught on. I feel that some of these new tips could be very helpful, such as alternating study location. Besides the explanation provided in the article, sometimes we just need a change of scenery to keep us from dozing off while studying. For example, I retain much more information when I study in my backyard than when I study in my room. I was shocked to read about the huge difference changing location made in the study where the students were asked to study 40 vocabulary words. In addition, I can also certainly see how varying the type of material studied can be more beneficial than focusing only on one specific area. If we overload our brain of too much of one thing, it can become very difficult to remember. From personal experience, I can also say that cramming may work very well to get a good grade on a test, but once the test is handed in, that information is quickly forgotten. Reading this article has certainly gotten me more interested in wanting to try the techniques.
ReplyDeleteThe only issue that I had with this article is that it failed to consider the many other factors that contribute to our study/recall of information. There is much more to studying than simply how we study. For example, if a student has only a math test in one day, they are probably very likely to score better on it than if he or she had a math, religion, science, and history test in one day. Because the student has four tests as opposed to one, he or she would most likely study for each one far less than if each one was on a separate day. In addition, students, especially teenagers, are all struggling and trying to cope with their personal issues and experiences. Many times, teen drama with friends, boyfriend troubles, and family problems may hinder the effectiveness of their studying because their mind is wandering into other areas rather than focusing on the material. Also, in today’s society, technology has become a huge distraction. It is not uncommon for a student to want to check their Facebook or watch a show on television while in the midst of studying. Overall, this article only spoke about the effectiveness of these study techniques in a controlled environment.
A class that I think would be best suited for a change in study habits is my AP Chemistry class. Although I have only had the class three times so far, I have been thrown a variety of different problems. When studying for a test, I feel that it would be very beneficial to do a few of each type of problem every night rather than only focusing on one type of problem every night. On the other hand, using these tips for a class such as religion may be difficult. When studying for religion, I simply read over the chapter a few times. It would be very difficult to divide up the parts because everything in each chapter is somehow linked.
I found this article fascinating. Before I read it, I thought about my own study techniques and how I prepare myself for learning on an everyday basis. I sit at the same table doing homework in the same way every day. But then I thought about I how study for midterms and finals, and I realize that my study techniques are contradictory—I study in different places of the house, and I don’t look at one subject for too long because I know that I’ll get bored with the information and I won’t remember any of it. Personally, I know that my studying for finals is more successful for my studying for normal tests, but I always figured it was because of the extra time I studied. Now I realize that the other factors—where I study, what kinds of information I study, the breaks I force myself to take when I study for finals—may be the real reason why I retain that information for so much longer.
ReplyDeleteOf course, there are exceptions and other factors that affect us to consider: How much other homework and how many other tests do we have on our plates? Do our after-school sports and activities take up so much of our time and leave little time for anything else? Did we pay attention when we learned the material for the first time in school? Are we personally going through an emotional or stressful time? Are we over-exhausted and about to fall asleep while we attempt to study? However, I think this article did a good job in addressing the ways we can improve our study habits in average circumstances.
I think that this information could help change and positively affect our efforts in a class where there are a lot of facts to be learned—lots of memorizations of dates (like History) or vocab words (like a foreign language or Psychology). I think that science and math classes could also reap the benefits of this article’s advice—don’t do the same exact types of practice problems over and over again if you really want to succeed and understand the reasons you approach the problems like you do; vary the different kinds of problems, just like they will be varied on tests, so you can get practice on how to read each problem and understand how you’ll have to approach them each in different ways. I think that a class about concepts, like English or Religion, is not as suited for these study methods because for those classes, once you understand the concept—no matter how simple or complex—you may not need to recall specifics to come to your answers.
I got really excited after reading this because my mom ALWAYS yells at me for studying in random rooms in the house and not at my desk. I will definitely show this to her while subtly saying "I told you so". And by subtly I mean I'll probably chant it. Anyway, I really enjoyed this article. Now that I'm a senior I pretty much have my study habits down but they changed a lot during the past three years. I completely agree with varying the material you're studying in a sitting. For me, I need to switch to another subject after an hour and then go back to it later. I thought the experiment where the subjects had to distinguish different painting styles was really interesting. It makes a lot of sense that looking at an assortment of different styles helps our brain learn to pick up on similarities and differences more effectively.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that everyone needs to study in their own specific way. Many people frown upon students listening to music while doing homework, but I think if it helps them focus and learn, then great! Everyone's brains work differently; some people need absolute silence while others get distracted by silence. I've read somewhere that it is ill advised to study in bed because it either makes it hard to sleep after or makes us fall asleep and not focus. I believe there's some credit to this theory, but again, some people may not be effected by it. However, I think that a variation of workplaces could be very helpful.
I disagree with the emphasis Dr. Roediger placed upon the importance of testing. While testing can improve a person's understanding of a subject and is essential to the educational process, I think too much attention to testing and the outcomes is detrimental to the learning process. If all students do is learn in order to do well on a test, then the class is fruitless. Discussions about the real life applications of the subject not only makes the information more interesting, but encourages the student to focus more intently to the material.
I'm taking Physics Honors this year and I can already tell I may need to tweak my study habits. Usually I study on different couches in my house because my desk is very uncomfortable, but I will probably need to use a hard surface for this subject. Since my math brain is not extremely strong (understatement) I will need to make my studying environment a bit more studious and focused. However, when studying for subjects I enjoy like history and English, I usually sit on a couch. I have a theory that because, as an avid reader, I always read books on couches, being in that same position while studying will make me enjoy the information more than if I was at my desk. Sitting on a couch provides my mind the illusion that my reading is for pleasure, not work. Therefore I am more motivated and less stressed. And in the midst of senior year, this is essential for my mental health.
I found this article very interesting. There was a lot of information about study habits that I was able to learn from. While reading this article I noticed that what I think are good study habits really are not always the best thing to do.
ReplyDeleteI have studied for all my tests in the same place since freshman year. I sit at my desk in my room and absorb all the information I can for the subject that I am going to be tested in. I was always nervous to change my study spot because I thought it would affect my grades in a negative way. But, after reading this article I might give changing my study spot a chance. This is because the article stated, psychologists found that college students who studied a list of 40 vocabulary words in two different rooms...did far better on a test than students who studied the words twice, in the same room."
Another thing I found interesting in this article is that instead of just studying one subject you should mix it up. I find that I study for one subject in bulk for finals and midterms. I get so bored while looking at one subject's information, but I always am nervous to switch to a differnt subject that I am not going to be tested on the next day. But from reading this article I can see that changing topics while studying really cannot hurt, it can only help. I see that it helps you retain the previous informaiton.
Self-testing is something that I never took advantage of. I always avoid the mini tests at the end of the chapter; because I do not want to have to be tested more than I have to be on certain material. I just want to study and then take the test. From reading this article, I might try self-testing. It is another great way to help you remember information and it gives you preparation for taking the real test.
After reading this article I have learned so many new studying techniques. Even though the way I study is not what the experts consider to be the best, it works for me. However, I still might try some of the things they suggested.
While I feel that the article brought out some good study tips, I'm unsure if they will catch on. People like to stick to the things they know and find it very difficult to go against that. I think telling people that they will get more out of studying if they study the same material in different rooms will be a bit like introducing people to the Aeron chair. While the Aeron chair may have been a better chair, more comfortable and better for our bodies to sit in, it was unlike any chair of its time and so people disliked it. While these new studying habits may provide better results, they go against almost everything we know about good study skills and people are going to be skeptical.
ReplyDeleteAs Alyssa, Jenn, and Katie mentioned, there are many distractions in our everyday lives that effect how much we get out of studying. Even if we follow all these tips, we still might not remember the information because we have a lot of other things on our mind - like friend drama. Also, sometimes we don't have the time or the space to follow these tips. In high school we have a busy schedule and I don't know for sure about everyone else, but with extracurricular activities and my regular homework, I just don't have the time to take an hour to study for each subject a week or two before the test. It can also be hard to move around if you are studying on the go - like before practice or at a tournament. Even when you are at home, I think sometimes it can be better to stay in one quiet area of the house to study because if you are moving to different rooms you are more likely to get distracted. While I think it can be difficult to move around when studying, I think that when you have the opportunity to you should take it because it can be beneficial.
I understand what Dr. Roediger is saying about how important tests and quizzes can be to helping us learn the material. I love when textbooks have online quizzes that I can take after reading the chapter so that I know I understand the material. While I find quizzes very helpful in studying, I also agree with Katherine that too much emphasis is put on doing well on tests. I know I am guilty of learning the material solely for the test and I think many other kids are as well. One area that I tend to do that a lot is vocabulary and I know many other people do that as well. Once you find out that the test is scantron and from the book, you really only need to read over the words the night before and you'll do fine on the test. I think everyone would do better on the SAT vocabulary section if they actually learned their vocabulary words in school.
I agree with Dr. Roediger's assessment that "the harder it is to recall something, the harder it is to forget." One thing that I've noticed over the years is that if I can't remember a fact and get that question wrong on a quiz, I almost always remember that fact when it comes to the test. I think that we remember the harder material better because we anticipate the difficulty and take preemptive measures, like going over that material one more time. Sometimes we take the easy material for granted and then we blank on it when we take the test.
I think this year I am going to change my study habits for Physics H and AP Psych. I think my physics grade will benefit from me practicing problems from the whole chapter mixed together. This mixed content will help me when the problems are all mixed together on the test. I also think that I have to change my study habits for AP Psych because the tests will be cumulative. I cannot just breeze through a tough concept by cramming the night before and then forgetting about it until the mid-term/final. The fact that the whole class will have to review all the material covered so far before every test will better prepare us for the AP test in May. I will probably try to use some of these tips in all my classes, but I feel that by senior year I already have my studying methods down. I think that if these new study habits are going to catch on, they have to be taught to kids when they are young so that they grow up hearing them.
ReplyDeleteIn middle school, every student in my school was required to take Study Skills, a class that solely focused on developing good study habits. In this class I learned basically everything opposite from what this article says. For instance, I was taught to pick one study spot, preferably a desk in a quite room, to always do my homework and studying at. However, this article proves that alternating study locations improves retention. We also learned that we each were different learners; some of us were "visual learners," while others were "hands-on learners." The article goes on to prove with different studies that there is no credible evidence to these such learning styles. After reading this article my instant reaction was shock. Was all that I had learned in Study Skills class false information? I can blame this on time, considering this article was recently published. However, I wonder if my teacher is still teaching the students of River Dell Middle School the same false information I learned.
ReplyDeleteContrary to what I was taught in middle school, I do agree with most information that is talked about in this article. The author provides evidence to support all his statements with recent studies. I think that this article is great for students to read because we can relate to it best. Personally, what stood out to me the most was the idea that alternating study rooms improves retention. Whenever I study for a long period of time, I always end up moving from room to room. My brother Chris is a year older then be and every time he looks for me when I am studying, he comments on how often I switch rooms. I change study locations because I tend to lose focus while staying in only one room, but I never knew that I was actually improving the amount of information I retain.
What this article does not take into consideration are all the factors that contribute to how we retain information while studying. There are thousands of other factors that effect the way we study. The amount of other work we have for school is one major factor. If a student only has one test the next day and no other homework, she is likely to do much more studying then if she were to have multiple tests the next day. Extra-curricular activities also have an affect on our study habits. Playing a sport fall, winter, and spring, I can relate. There are some days where we have away games and I do not get home until around 7:00. I do not get as much studying done on days when I have off of a sport, causing me to have to alter my study habits. I think every student can attest to getting distracted on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. These distractions interfere with the way a student studies. These are only a few of the numerous factors that effect a students study habits.
I think English would be the one class this year that would be best suited for a change in study habits, particularly the way I study vocabulary. I admit, I study the forty words the night before the vocabulary test. When it comes time for the final, I never remember them because I just memorize them for the day of the test and then forget them. By changing my study habits, and studying a couple words each night, I feel that I will be able to learn these words thoroughly and be able to use them in my everyday life. Changing my study habits would be hard for math class. I do not know what I could really do differently because I go over what I learned in class every night while doing my homework. It would be hard to find something to change.
I thought that this article was interesting, especially because I can apply it to my own life. I was able to learn how to “tweak” some of my study habits, and now I will be able to put them into affect for this coming school year. Before I read this article, I was convinced that all my study habits were very good. I stick to the same schedule and it works for me, but I after I read this article, I found out that there are a few things that need to be altered.
ReplyDelete“We have known these principles for some time, and it’s intriguing that schools don’t pick them up, or that people don’t learn them by trial and error,” said Robert A. Bjork. This line stuck out a lot to me since I want to be a teacher and I find it interesting that schools/teachers have not picked up on such a big issue. This comment was made in reaction to the fact that it is a good study habit to switch rooms and study in multiple locations. I tend to study in my room at the same time every night, and I usually study one subject until I am done without taking any breaks or switching the subject matter. “Varying the type of material studied in a single sitting — alternating, for example, among vocabulary, reading and speaking in a new language — seems to leave a deeper impression on the brain than does concentrating on just one skill at a time.” This quote directly proves that my study habits could be changed for the better. Although I personally find it easier to study one subject at a time and keep going over the same information in one sitting, I am open to this new style of studying because it could help me retain information better. I also liked how the author tied in the aspect of athletics, and I thought that this was a perfect topic to add into an article like this because as an athlete, I can easily relate to what is being said.
I think that this article should be sent to schools all around the country since it has such a deep meaning. If teachers were to get hold of the main topic of this article, then maybe they will be able to have a positive influence on their children.
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ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article, I was surprised to learn the results from these experiments. I related this article to my study habits and I realized I do almost everything opposite of what this article says. I sit in the same room everyday working on one piece of homework and then moving on to the next. I think a major reason why I do this is because majority of students have been taught to study this way. I learned to study like this in middle school. I took a course and the teacher told us to find a quiet area in your house where you can dedicate to doing your homework and always work there in order to get your homework done in the most efficient way possible. This article, however, argues the complete opposite of this technique. Also, I think all through grammar school, middle school, and high school, I have heard how people are different kinds of learners whether they are a "visual learner" or an "auditory learner." This article is the first time I have heard that this is not true. I was shocked to find out that there are almost zero support for these ideas. It's very hard to believe these new techniques, especially after being taught one way for almost your whole life.
ReplyDeleteEven though I was taught differently, I do agree with this article and these techniques. The evidence is all in this article explained thoroughly through the experiments and the evidence provided. I can't believe how all of this evidence is out there, but teachers are still not teaching this in the classroom. This article is the first time I'm hearing of these techniques and it is a shame that students are not learning of these study habits at an earlier age. Personally, I realized that I tend to switch rooms a lot while I am studying because I simply get bored staying in the same room for too long. I did not realize that I was greatly benefiting myself by doing this.
This article makes a lot of good points about studying, but I believe there are a lot of other factors that allow us to retain information well or not. I think the biggest reason that people cannot study well is because of personal reasons that easily distract them. High school students have a lot going on in their lives and they are easily stressed out and preoccupied with other things. I think at times like this, studying would not work well for many people. Your mind would be in a million different other places and you won't be able to focus. Also, students are doing a lot of other things with their lives other than school work. Whether it is sports, dance, music, or chores, students have a lot of things to do during the day. This will sometimes not allow for much time to study. Time is a huge factor in retaining information. You need to set aside enough time to thoroughly go through all of the information or the information will not end up sticking. Another huge factor that will affect studying is technology. People easily get distracted by things like Facebook, Twitter, and Television and this will definitely alter someones study habits. There are several other factors that can alter study habits as well.
Personally, I think that English and Physics Honors would be two classes best suited for a change in my study habits. For Physics, I know there is going to be a lot of memorizing formulas and things like that, so I need to figure out a way to be able to memorize them for longer than just the one test. For English, The same kind of concept goes for vocabulary. I need to figure out a way to learn the words for the midterm and final and not just the unit test. I am going to still change the room where I am studying, but I am going to add one study habit. I am going to space out my studying and study a little each night. This was I will retain the information for a longer period of time. Changing my study habits might be hard but it will definitely be well worth it!
I thought this article was very interesting because it showed me some different approaches to studying that I have not considered in the past. What intrigued me the most was the comparison to an athlete in training. A person cannot go to the gym and lift every day to be in shape. They need a balance of conditioning, agility, flexibility, strength, etc. Relating this theory of a well rounded athlete to a well rounded student, it seems quite logical. Studying the same subject for an extensive amount of time is like lifting weights for a week; the effects might not show do to over usage. By studying a couple different subjects every couple hours may help a person retain more information. I think that this new approach to studying is something that comes with our advancements of life. This is a generation where multitasking is the norm. People and technology working together help us to become quicker and more efficient during everyday tasks. With a society that thrives off of instantaneous results, our patience levels have dropped as our need for speed increases. Thus, studying a couple different subjects (ex. Wireless) may be more fitting to the brain as opposed to studying one (ex. Dial-Up). I think I will use this new tactic when studying History because it is a class I have always struggled with primarily because it involves extensive hours of reading along with memorization of dates, people, places, and things.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this article because it is extremely relatable to me, a student, particularly at this time during my high school career. After having developed my study habits over the past three years, it is interesting to see the flaws or advantages of the methods by which I have been learning material. What particularly interested me was the idea of hard tests being one of the best tools of learning. My initial reaction was that this concept was ridiculous, prompted by the fact that I’ve always enjoyed gaining more knowledge, but absolutely abhorred the idea of test-taking in general. Yet as I allowed myself to consider the author’s point I realized that this ideology was absolutely true. Immediately after I take a test, I go over it in my head. In the few minutes that it takes for me to hand in my test and exit the room, I have forgotten more than half of the questions that were asked on the test. However, the questions that I do remember are the ones that I had the most difficulty answering. This idea of “desirable difficulty” truly has merit. The more I had to think about a question, and go deeper into my understanding of the problem, the more easily the question, or that fact, becomes ingrained in my memory.
ReplyDeleteAnother concept discussed in the article that I found interesting was the idea of spacing study sessions. Being completely honest, I have occasionally resorted to “cramming” as a method of studying in the past. I’ve always wondered why the information literally seems to disappear after I take the test the next day, and I find myself re-studying the material for the final exam. I wasn’t completely satisfied with the explanation given, because the author simply tells the reader why learning the material over an extended period of time is more effective, ignoring the reasons behind the “disappearing act” information learned quickly seems to practice. I’d love to know the science behind the connection
The other factors that could be contributing to our study/recall of information are the various technological disturbances that doom easily-distracted teenagers today. Social networking sites thrive on the compulsive need of their users to be connected every minute of the day. Sites like Facebook and Twitter have become an addiction for students everywhere, and no matter how skilled one is at multitasking, the notifications that pile in are often too tempting to ignore. In addition, emotional distractions can affect our ability to study/recall information as well. The mood we’re in, or our circumstances at the time, definitely have an effect on our ability to perform. If we could put life on hold and simply focus on studying, it would be much easier for us to focus and retain information; however this is impossible to do in reality.
History is definitely a class where I can apply a change in study habits this year. I’ve never been interested or intrigued by history, and for this reason, it’s always proved to be my most challenging class. I think that alternating my study environment, possibly to my backyard near the river, could prove extremely beneficial in allowing me to better focus on the task at hand. Since I don’t find history to be the most interesting subject, I’ll be less likely to find myself trapped in the monotonous routine of dragging my textbook and laptop upstairs to read and respond to the historical text. I don’t think that the idea of “mixing content” would be challenging for a subject like religion, where it is extremely straight-forward and one-dimensional. Personally, I read the content and then process it, there aren’t many ways that I could approach the subject material, unlike math, where I could do the problems using various methods, or simply doing various types of problems.
This article discusses principles that I've heard before and not necessarily agreed with: I never understood why having different places to study, for example, could make a person retain more information. Yet after reading the explanation in this article that we subconsciously associate certain environments with what we're learning, it makes sense that the more environments we put ourselves in, the more links our brains can make to what we're studying.
ReplyDeleteLike the article said, though, I also think that many outside forces affect the way we study and learn information. In experiments, there is only one variable: the studying technique. But in real school, and in real life, there are many variables, some of which we have control, but others of which we have absolutely no control. We have control of distractions -- like cell phones, Facebook, email, and the internet in general -- that make us worse studiers. I think that keeping our computers closed if we don't need them and putting our phones away while studying will help us, but obviously this is hard to do. We're being told by teachers and parents left and right that we need to do this, but constantly checking for Facebook notifications and texts is a sort of addiction that isn't so easily overcome. Motivation is a problem related to distractions; our lack of motivation allows us to become distracted, and then distractions make us even less motivated. We will never be able to completely eliminate these distractions, but I think that changing up study habits can help them to become less of a problem. In addition, I know that my study habits depend on what I have to do on any given day (go to dance, stay after school for a club meeting, etc.). Sometimes it's hard to fit everything in, but it's important to make time to get things done. I know that even if I only have an hour between getting home from school and having to leave again, there is at least one small piece of work I should be able to accomplish. Working at things bit by bit is actually very effective.
One class in which the way I study needs a serious revamping is history. Since US History is a two-part course at IHA, we're really just picking up where we left off last year, and a lot of the things we learned last year are important in relating to new things we will learn this year. This is obviously a problem for anyone who, like me, hasn't retained all of the old information. There is no way to remember the new information the right way, because it won't be built upon the things we should already know. For the new stuff to stick, we must make connections between it and the old stuff. I think the best thing for me to do in history this year would be to first go back and do a little review of last year's material (which, let's be honest, I should have already done over the summer). Then, I can go about learning new material in the right way. Since we get assigned a lot to read at once, I need to find a way to space out the readings instead of saving them all for one time period. I also think that finding different places to do these readings will help me retain bit by bit over time, which is obviously important for a subject like history. It is a subject that seems straightforward, but memorization will not suffice if I want to do better. In history, retaining information over time and making links between old and new topics are most important.
Another class that I think would be good for mixing content is Psychology. Even though I haven't done much yet, it's clear that the subject has many different aspects and that we'll be assigned many different kinds of assignments. I think that this is something to take advantage of: instead of spending two hours straight on reading from the textbook, I could break it up by reading an article (like this one!) and then commenting on the blog. This way, when I go back to the textbook, I will have to remember what I read before and make stronger links to that information in my brain.
This article wasn’t entirely surprising to me! I always knew that I need a change of pace or place when studying, or else I can’t focus. It isn’t just a matter of retention, but also absorption in the first place. It’s easiest to break things up into smaller parts and study one thing in small doses. It was news to me, however, that time or space helps with retention. I would think that studying every night would help learning much more than studying once a week.
ReplyDeleteThe article suggests that the use of a practice test is more beneficial than constant studying. I’m curious if it’s the usefulness of a test or simply practicing the motion of test-taking that helps with performance. The article suggests the first, but I’m leaning towards the latter. Perhaps it helps ease our pressure.
Though I’d welcome any help with studying for history class, I don’t think that these methods would apply easily to that subject. Studying different parts at different times and breaking up chronology would only confuse the material. However, it could work. I could vary the aspects of one time period or place I’m studying: politics, economics, demographics, culture, etc.
I really liked this article. I thought it was really interesting that so many psychologists had known all of this information about different study habits for so long, but we, as students and teachers, continue to use the same methods in terms of learning. I think our society is very much against change. Anything that is different seems to be looked upon as wrong and something that we should avoid. I really feel like a lot of these study habits would be helpful, especially for middle school aged children, when they have to prepare for tests. If we were taught these methods of studying when we were so young, I think high school is so stressful for so many people because most of us are not sure exactly how to study. I think the idea of studying alternating topics under an umbrella subject is really effective. When we just keep reading the same material over and over again, yes we may memorize, but that does not, necessarily, mean that we retain. One thing that really surprised me, however, was that changing the location in which you study can actually improve how much you retain! Effective studying, I think, is often times equated with a silent room or library, but this article taught me that quite the contrary is true.
ReplyDeleteI, actually, think our willingness to learn also affects how much we remember. When what we are learning is something that genuinely interests us, I think we are more inclined to retain information pertaining to that topic. I know from personal experience, when I study something to just get a good grade on the test, I do not actually remember that information past the test day. I think if certain teachers were able to teach more collaborative and interactive classes, their students would want to be more involved and, in turn, studying would not be as much of a chore for them.
Either my physics or pre-calc class could use some new study habits, in my opinion. I’m not much of a math person, and both subjects are, obviously, very heavily math based. I think if I were able to alternate some study habits, my overall feeling for the year and those classes would improve. This year is the first experience I’m going to have with both physics and pre-calc. I’m a little nervous about how I will do, but I think using the techniques this article presented could really improve how I perform in each class. English and lifestyles, in my opinion, would be difficult to change study habits for. I feel like english, and lifestyles, alike, are subjects that you need more expression rather than straight forward facts for; therefore, the type of studying suggested in the article I think would be difficult.
I liked the article and I agree that different people need to study in different ways. My mom and I are complete opposites; she could never study if there was music playing but I need music to study and do my homework. Although, I study with the same routine; I get home, change out of my uniform, bring whatever books and materials I need to my kitchen counter downstairs, put on Pandora (The Fray station), start my homework and studying, and I can only take one break for dinner with my family. I could never study and do homework a different way, I can not concentrate. I did not figure out that this was the way I had to study until the end of freshman year here at IHA, before I had coasted my whole way through grammar school and middle school. Even though this may be the way I study, there are many different people who use different methods; I don't believe that teachers should just teach one method of studying, but touch on all the different methods so students can try which works best.
ReplyDeleteThis year I actually don't believe I have a class that I should change my study habits in. As I said earlier, it took me about a year to figure out how to study and since then I have not changed my study routine. I do believe that this class, AP Psychology, and will be my toughest course. I know what I have to do, but it will still be a challenge for me to be successful in.
I found this New York Times article to be very interesting. I strongly agree with the point that pertained to changing your location while studying and how it can prove to be a very effective tool. I was recently doing a practice test of the math section of the SAT. I did the first section in the kitchen, and I moved to my dining room for the second. It turned out that I did much better on the second section, after I changed rooms! I think changing my surroundings refreshed me, and it gave my subconscious something else to look at. Also, if I do too much work in one room, I can feel myself getting more bored than if I had changed my surroundings. Additionally, I think that our interest in the subject plays a big role in how much we retain. I enjoy math much more than I enjoy history, and I know I remember more equations than I do battles. Therefore, I think our environment and our willingness to learn both play major roles in how well we retain what we study.
ReplyDeleteI think one class I have this year that would be best suited for a change in study habits is US History II. This class is not very interesting to me, and I get bored learning it very easily. I think that if I changed my surroundings every time I finish a reading, I may feel a little more entertained. I also think that writing out my notes may help. Another challenging class I have is Calculus Honors. Doing lengthy homework for this class gets tedious; I usually change rooms every ten problems or so, and I think it helps me keep my concentration. In conclusion, I strongly agree with this New York Times article because I know what they are suggesting is true – I have experienced in several different situations.