Ep. 17: Discovering the Characteristics of Effective Learning with Peter C. Brown
May 19, 2015
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Guest Peter C. Brown, author of 'Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning', discusses effective learning strategies, retrieval practice, mixing up learning activities, challenging oneself in language learning, the role of sleep in brain repair, the benefits of historical fiction, the challenges and rewards of writing, and the myth of age as a barrier to learning.
Retrieval practice and spaced repetition are effective learning techniques that lead to better long-term learning and memory.
Mixing up practice and generation exercises enhances mastery, retention, and application of knowledge.
Deep dives
Importance of effective learning and comparing strategies
The podcast episode explores the significance of successful long-term learning and compares different strategies. The host, an expert in accelerated learning, interviews Peter C. Brown, author of the book 'Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning'. Both guests discuss the key elements of effective learning, emphasizing the importance of retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and mixing up learning exercises. They also highlight the benefits of self-quizzing, problem-solving, and mental rehearsal in enhancing mastery and retention. The episode emphasizes the need for understanding how learning works and cultivating habits of reflection and self-inquiry to optimize learning outcomes.
The power of retrieval practice and spaced repetition
The podcast delves into the research on retrieval practice and spaced repetition as effective learning techniques. It discusses how practicing recalling information from memory is more beneficial than simply reviewing or rereading it. The episode highlights the testing effect, which suggests that engaging in quizzes and tests leads to better long-term learning and memory. It emphasizes the importance of spacing out practice sessions and revisiting material after a period of time to strengthen learning and retention. The guests also touch upon the significance of sleep for consolidating learning and suggest the use of visual cues and emotional connections to aid recall.
The value of mixing up practice and generation
The podcast episode explores the benefits of mixing up practice and generation in learning. It explains that switching between different but related exercises helps improve mastery and recall. The guests discuss research that supports the idea that interleaving practice of various examples or problems leads to better retention and application of knowledge. They note that mixing up practice may feel difficult or clunky, but it promotes a deeper and more sophisticated understanding of the material. The episode also highlights the concept of generation, where learners are presented with problems and encouraged to find solutions, as it enhances learning and memory acquisition.
Building mental models and connecting new learning
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of building mental models and connecting new learning to existing knowledge. It discusses how learners should identify the key ideas in the material they are studying and make connections to what they already know. The episode highlights the significance of reflection and self-inquiry as habits that enhance learning and retrieval of information. The guests stress that all new learning builds upon existing knowledge and that retrieval cues and vivid cues, such as visual imagery, aid in finding and recalling information later. They also touch upon the advantages of engaging in mental rehearsal and creating connections between different areas of learning.
As someone who specializes in accelerated learning, I’m really excited about this week's guest, Peter C. Brown. After retiring from management consulting, he has published a number of books on money making ventures for nonprofits, jumping the job track, and most recently, a book entitled “Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning.” In fact, his book and mine are consistently battling it out for the top spot on Amazon’s list of best books about learning, so you know, i just had to reach out to him and compare notes on how the strategies for successful long-term learning versus those for accelerated learning compare.
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