The Spacing Effect

The "spacing effect" is a simple technique to better retain information - and perform better on exams.

1. Learn the subject
2. Take a good chunk of time (e.g. couple days) to do other activities
3. Come back and attempt to retain the subject

While retaining is difficult because of the gap, it is precisely because of the difficulty long term memory improves. Note: If the interval between learning and retaining is too short or too long, there is no spacing effect.

As an example, an experiment found that an Ontario school 5th grade students remembered far more vocabulary words they learned in 2 sessions spaced 1 week apart vs. 1 lesson.

Teaching Helps Writing

Research finds that science grad students who did research and taught improved their written research proposals over 1 academic year more than those who just researched. Differences in written quality "could not account for the results, because only specific skills among those analyzed showed improvement as a function of the teaching experience."

Students and Incentives

Student performance in low-performing schools was tested against promises of financial and non-financial incentives for good grades. The results:

1. Size matters: Students were willing to work much harder at $80/hour, but not at $40/hour
2. Punishment > Reward: Rewards were most powerful if framed as losses, demonstrating our stronger attachment to what we possess
3. Non-financial incentives (e.g. trophies) worked best with youth
4. Immediacy is everything: Promises of future rewards was largely ineffective

Writing Can Decrease Exam Anxiety

Writing about your worries just before an exam can reduce the risk of performing poorly due to anxiety.

In the study, 20 students were given two math exams - doing nothing special before the first exam. Before the second exam, students were told they would receive money for high grades. Half of the students (Group 1) were then instructed to take 10 minutes and write down any concerns they had about the exam.

Group 2 did 12% worse on the 2nd test vs. the 1st. In contrast, Group 1 experienced a 5% improvement on the 2nd exam. The research found that writing had to be about test-related concerns, not writing in general.

Talk it Out

Research finds that students who worked out math problems out loud got more accurate results, and faster. Math students solved math problems and researchers found that students who reasoned through their thinking out loud, or drew out pictures for the problem, answered questions quicker and more accurately than their counterparts

Lower Teen Crashes By Sleepign In

High schools in Virginia Beach, VA start 75-80 minutes earlier than high schools in neighboring Chesapeake (w/ similar demographics). Research found Virginia Beach crash rates were significantly higher and peak crash times were one hour earlier than peak Chesapeake crash times.

A previous post highlighted the benefit of starting school late, to afford for teens sleeping needs.

Study Smarter, Not Harder

The New York Times reports on a number of easy to do techniques to make the most of your study time.

Alternate
Don't stick to one study location.

Simply alternating the room where a person studies improves retention. A classic 1978 experiment found that college students who studied 40 vocabulary words in two different rooms tested far better than students who studied the words twice, in the same room. Studies have confirmed the finding for a variety of topics. The brain associates what's being studied and external cues. You remember the green room with the First Amendment or the smell of the rug with the eating habits of hippos. In effect, you're forcing the brain to make multiple associations with the same material.

Mix
Study distinct but related concepts in one sitting, not just one topic.

Alternating, for example, vocabulary, reading and speaking in a new language — leaves a far deeper impression on the brain than concentrating on one skill at a time. Musicians practice sessions often include a mix of scales, musical pieces and rhythmic work. Many athletes routinely mix their workouts with strength, speed and skill drills.

Rest
Take periodic breaks - your brain needs rest just like a muscle does

Test
Testing not only assesses command of a subject, but helps one learn it.

Much like the bizarre Heisenberg uncertainty principle - where measurement a property of a particle alters that property - testing measures, but also changes and improves knowledge. Testing makes people cringe but that's the point. The harder it is to remember something, the harder it will be to forget.

Want To Improve Grades? Sleep In

The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine has conducted a study that argues students grades can improve if school started a 1/2 hour later than it currently does.

From adolescence, children have a delayed sleep phase - they sleep later and need about 9.25 total hours of sleep.

One test case in Rhode Island revealed that after the delayed start: students who got at least eight hours of sleep went from 16% to 55%, attendance improved, there were fewer visits to the health center for fatigue-related complaints and far less students said they felt unhappy, depressed, annoyed or irritated.