Spaced Learning

What is it and why use it?

Spaced Learning

• It is about converting short term memory into long term

• It is useful because• It offers techniques for revision• It offers us a way of building our retention- as

modular exams are being replaced by end of course final assessment- this is even more important

What is so different about a spaced learning session

• It has to be prescribed into 3 separate sessions or ‘inputs’ separated by 10 minute activities that have absolutely no linkage to your task or unit of study.

• So get ready for some pretty strange activities in the course of the day.

What does it look like?Input 1- teacher gives a large body of

information!

Input 2- student recall of what they have learnt

Input 3- focus on understand- fill the gaps from input 2

Each input interspersed with 10 m

inute activities

Rapid structured repetition improves the long term memory

Don’t tell me; it’s on the tip of my tongue!

• Retrieval of information is an issue for us all. Normally it can be resolved with a few minutes thought but for some people they can have profound issues of retrieval

• We are not focusing on people with trauma or who have conditions that impact on this but for most of us it is a matter of training our neural pathways

Creating strong neural pathways

• Based on the work of R Douglas Fields

• His research into ‘switching on’ pathways to create memories has been at the base of spaced learning

Its not about multiple exercises

• Timing is everything• They found out that it was not a matter of

repletion but the timing of the gaps between stimulation to the neurons

• So this is what is going to happen to you

Quick and pacey information- almost overload!

• The first delivery is high teacher led• Second more student and some teacher input• Third almost exclusively student led

INPUT 1-PRESENTING INFORMATION

INPUT 2 –RECALLING INFORMATION

INPUT 3-UNDERSTANDING INFORMATION

What will you get from the day

• Everything or nothing!• As with anything you have to ‘buy-in’• If you do you will have incredibly powerful

revision techniques• Really strong ways of retaining information

and dealing with issues of concentration• It can only work when you are working with it