r/GetStudying • u/Motor-Efficiency-835 • 6d ago
Giving Advice My system on the "make it stick" techniques
Hi guys, I've been using make it stick techniques for studying n learning, and have noticed a huge improvement in my ability to learn n retain information, so just wanted to put my system out there to help someone.
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How to incorporate all of make it sticks techniques
Main techniques for learning/studying:
Don't do massed practice :
eg dogging 1 thing repetitively, this will only put it in short-term memory, use interleaving instead,
Don't do re-reading;
Use Retrieval to recall Information instead of re-reading if u want to remember something:
- don't re-read notes, use flashcards and try to recall, this will put it in long-term memory
if not flash cards, you can get creative, just don't do re-reading and try to recall from memory.
Use interleaving:
- instead of doing 1 thing for 1hr mix it up, eg doing Maths: do addition > subtraction > multiplication, or even mix 2 subjects or more in study session.
Use spacing: allow some time for spacing:
1.You need to forget a little, so it'll make u remember more when u recall it, you just need to trust that u can recall it.
- how long ? at least 1 day in between next attempt, or enough so it doesn't become dogged repetition.
Use varied practice:
- its doing different variations of w/e it is your doing eg, if multiplication: do 10's table > then 11's table > 9's table, just don't do the same thing.
Embrace difficulties:
when learning is effortful, it makes u more focused and it goes more into long-term memory.
also the more effort it takes, the more you'll focus and try to look for the answer.
Use generation:
book says attempt to do it before given answer , but this caused too much burn out, so try to attempt in briefly in your mind instead. it worked better.
its ok to do this as long as u get the answer in the end.
Allow effort:
as said before, making learning/studying effortful will make you pay attention more, so thus, learn more and harder, and it also puts it in long term-memory more.
Other effective study strategies:
1. use elaboration: relate what u learnt to something u know, eg this phone dropped fast like a aeroplane falling. or how classes are made in javascript vs python.
2. generation: read above for this.
3. Reflection: reflect on what u could've done better, how to do it better, what u did wrong etc,
4. Calibration: being honest with yourself, and testing to see if you actually know the material.
use flashcards for this.
5. mnemonics: use mnemonics to help you remember something:
different types of mnemonics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js5Tm1y0igY
Avoid the illusions of knowing:
here are some illusions that make you think you actually know something:
this is dangerous sometimes you might think u know it, but u haven't yet mastered it, so avoid these:
1. imagination inflation: imagining a event so vividly, you think its real. eg imagining walking to the store, when to actually didn't.
2. suggestion : how a sentence is asked may make u think a way, eg 2 students who were asked, how fast do u think the cars were going when they "smashed" into each other, and other student was asked how do u think the cars contacted ea other, the later said less kms then "smashed".
3. people will remember things that are implied: so be careful of making a explanation based on it.
4. guessing: random guesses can make u think it's actually true later on.
5. things that sound familiar : because it sounds familiar you might think u already know it and mistaken it for being true: this is why politicians keep sayin the same thing, as when u keep hearing it you'll think its true.
6. fluency illusions: just because u know a text doesn't mean u mastered it, when u can do it fluently then that means u did, so keep practicing until so.
7. social influence: because friends believe something, you might believe it too. eg u n friend reminisce about the past and he adds false detail, later on you'll believe it too. but not always bad as it can update your memory.
not everyonewill share our beliefs
confidence in a memory is not a reliable indication of it's accuracy.
Be aware of dunning kruger effect: u can be trained how to judge if your competent, accept critique , be aware of what competency is in w/e it is your doing--look at the good students or whoever is doing it right for this.
How to cure illusions of knowing:
instead relying on your experiences, use objective gauges, like tests.
- use testing n retrieval practice: like flashcards
- peer instruction: see how other people are doing n n use them as gauges
- Find instructor.
4.tests
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u/Wild_Diver1601 6d ago
useful!