Cinthia Nebel, a Cognitive Psychological Scientist, discusses effective learning methods for neurodivergent learners. Topics include the debunking of multitasking, the ineffectiveness of rereading, and the importance of self-efficacy for learning.
Rereading and highlighting are ineffective study methods, while retrieval practice and spaced practice enhance long-term retention and meaningful learning.
Multitasking is not an effective approach to learning and productivity; focusing on one task at a time leads to better concentration, deeper learning, and improved efficiency.
Deep dives
The Power of Retrieval Practice and Spaced Learning
Rereading and highlighting are ineffective study methods. The most frequently used strategy, rereading, often leads to a false sense of understanding. However, the act of retrieval practice, actively recalling information without looking at the source material, is highly beneficial for learning. It improves memory retention and helps identify areas of weakness that need further review. Another powerful technique is spaced practice, which involves distributing study sessions over time rather than cramming everything the night before an exam. Research shows that spaced practice promotes better long-term retention and recall of information. The key is to schedule regular review sessions, even for just a few minutes each day, to reinforce learning and build a strong foundation of knowledge.
The Myth of Multitasking
Contrary to popular belief, multitasking is not an effective approach to learning and productivity. Studies consistently show that trying to focus on multiple tasks at once leads to decreased performance and information retention. Our brains are not designed to handle simultaneous attention to different activities. Instead of multitasking, the recommended strategy is to focus on one task at a time. It allows for better concentration, deeper learning, and improved efficiency. Giving each task your full attention and avoiding distractions will yield better results and enhance overall productivity.
Building Self-Efficacy for Success
Self-efficacy, the belief in one's ability to succeed at a task, plays a crucial role in motivation and learning. Previous experiences, either personal or observed, can influence self-efficacy. Highlighting past successes and providing positive feedback can boost confidence and belief in one's abilities. Additionally, the psychological and physiological state can impact self-efficacy, so it is important to create an optimal learning environment. Taking care of physical and emotional needs, such as getting enough sleep and managing stress, can enhance self-belief. By cultivating self-efficacy, learners can develop resilience, tackle challenges with confidence, and persist in their learning journey.
Empowering Learners with Effective Study Habits
Many commonly used study methods, such as rereading and highlighting, are often ineffective for long-term learning. Rereading lacks the active engagement needed for deep understanding and retention of material. Instead, strategies like retrieval practice, actively recalling information from memory, and spaced practice, distributing study sessions over time, are highly effective for promoting meaningful learning. Retrieval practice strengthens memory and organization of information, while spaced practice enhances long-term retention. By adopting these evidence-based study techniques and exploring individualized learning methods, learners can build a diverse toolbox of effective study habits and maximize their academic success.
What does it take to be an effective learner, and how does a neurodivergent person’s experience differ from that of neurotypical people? Which study methods work better for our neurodivergent population? What role does confidence play in the learning process? Finally, we take no joy in breaking some news to people who fancy themselves good multi-taskers. Cinthia Nebel is a Cognitive Psychological Scientist, and she talks with Emily Kircher-Morris about learning and studying, on episode 187.
Sign up for our free week-long Crash Course on Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools that Emily talked about in today’s show. It happens the week of September 18th, and all of the events in the course will be live and interactive, so you can talk to Emily, our expert guests, and other attendees. It’s a chance to learn and share info that will better position your classroom and school to meet the needs of all learners.
Also, soon we’ll be launching a community for educators who are dedicated to creating a neurodiversity-affirming learning environment for students! Click here to hop on the waiting list and get more information.
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Dr. Cynthia Nebel is a Cognitive Psychological Scientist who has broad interests in human learning and memory, and applying cognitive concepts to improve education. She is currently a senior lecturer in the Leadership & Learning in Organizations Program at Vanderbilt, and is part of the Learning Scientists team, which focuses on researching ways to motivate students, increasing efficacy of teaching strategies and more.
