1️⃣ Primacy and Recency Effects: our brains tend to best remember the initial and final stuff we learn (Primacy and Recency Effects, respectively). Structure study sessions strategically: introduce vital concepts early for lasting impact, reinforce at the end for cementing importance. Teachers swear by it - kick off with fundamentals and conclude with summaries or engaging activities for optimal retention.
⏰ Session Time Division:
- Begin with the most crucial info for higher yield (Primacy).
- Review previously learned topics (mid-session is often less memorable).
- Recap the most relevant material from the start (Recency).
2️⃣ Interleaving: Mix up topics for better learning. Instead of blocking topics, embrace variation (not too much). This happens through 2 principles:
- Contextual interference - topic variation can yield better retention and transfer, though it might lead to poorer performance during the task.
- Discriminative contrast - mixed practice builds better connections, allowing knowledge transfer across domains
3️⃣ Categorizing: Don’t just memorize; build a structure around information. Actively connect pieces for better retrieval. Categorizing aids memorization and fosters deeper connections, building knowledge upon existing foundations.
💡 Actionable Strategy:
- Start strong, end strong: Capitalize on Primacy and Recency.
- Mix it up: Interleave topics for better understanding.
- Organize systematically: Connect & categorize for deeper connections and better retrieval.