jen coane, phd psychology. metacognition knowing what you know good metacognition is important for...
TRANSCRIPT
Effective Study
Strategies:
Evidence from
memory research
Learning Differences FairNovember 2013
Jen Coane, PhDPsychology
Metacognition
Knowing what you know
Good metacognition is important for academic success
“Do I know this?”
What happens when errors in judgment occur?
Yes!
No!
OK, I’m done studying now!
Time to keep studying!
Which is best?Make your own
mnemonic
Imagine you have to learn all the cranial nerves. You make your own mnemonic.
Use a mnemonic provided
Imagine you have to learn all the cranial nerves. Your instructor provides you with a “classic” mnemonic used by students before you.
Bloom & Lamkin, 2006
Generation (making your own) is better. Generation is more difficult and requires more attention.
Which is best?
Chunking Imagine you have
to learn to recognize different painters’ styles for art history. Group all the works by one artist together.
Manet
Monet
Pissarro
Which is best?
Chunking Imagine you have
to learn to recognize different painters’ styles for art history. Group all the works by one artist together.
Interleaving Imagine you have
to learn to recognize different painters’ styles for art history. Mix the paintings by different artists in random order.
Manet
Monet
Pissarro
Manet
Manet
Monet
Monet
Pissarro
Pissarro
Interleaving is better! (Kornell & Bjork, 2008)
Which is best?Cramming before an
exam
Study the material intensely right before an exam
Spacing your study sessions
Start studying long before the exam for an hour or so a day
SPACING is better – even when total study time is the same! Vlach et al., 2008
Which is best?
Repeated Study
After reading a text, re-read (re-study) it again
Taking a test
After reading a text, take a test immediately (instead of re-studying)
Roediger & Karpicke, 2006
Taking a test is better! When you take a test, you are practicing the same skills you will be using on a “real” test.
Testing vs. Re-studying
Indirect effects of testing
Study regularly
Learn from feedback
Self-assessment – improved metacognition If you don’t understand
it, you won’t remember it – testing is a great way to make sure you understand.
Direct effects of testing
Taking a test changes how you learn
Intermediate tests make it easier to learn new information
Testing is harder – difficulty results in better memory Up to 400%
improvement!
Desirable Difficulties
Testing is harder than re-reading
“Desirable difficulties” help learning because they provide challenges that result in stronger memory (Bjork, 1994)
Applied Tips!
Test yourself Practice questions in books Ask your professors for old exams Write questions with a study group 3R: Read, Recite, Review (McDaniel et al.,
2009)
Applied Tips!
Using flashcards Use them to test yourself – and go both ways Make “big” stacks so you are SPACING and
INTERLEAVING Do not take cards out when you think you
know it – continue testing yourself
Scheduling your Study Time
Spacing can reduce “feeling of knowing” – thus leading to more study
Research shows that students tend to over-estimate how well they know material and stop studying too soon (Kornell & Bjork, 2007)
Remember… You will not learn 12 weeks of information in one week!
Questions?
I am happy to meet with you to discuss study strategies
Roberts 336