Making sure learning sticks
If you want to really learn something before a big test, put your books down. Research shows that the traditional method of "cramming" for an exam by reading the same thing over and over again, doesn't work. (Rerun from Oct. 2014)
Here’s some good news for students out there: if you want to memorize something, put your books down. Research shows that the traditional method of “cramming” for an exam by reading the same thing over and over again, doesn’t work. To truly learn, you’ve got to switch subject matter often, ask yourself questions about the material and give yourself time to let the subject matter sink in. These are just a few tips covered by the book “Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning,” by Peter Brown, Henry Roediger and Mark McDaniel. In 2014, ARW producer and correspondent Samara Freemark interviewed Peter Brown for documentary, “The Science of Smart.” Here are segments of that interview, which we originally released on our podcast in October 2014.