minstrelmike - Posted - 09/06/2010:  12:57:40

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interesting article in the new york times on new research into the best ways to study.
nytimes.com/2010/09/07/health/...f=science

or instance, instead of sticking to one study location, simply alternating the room where a person studies improves retention. So does studying distinct but related skills or concepts in one sitting, rather than focusing intensely on a single thing.

“We have known these principles for some time, and it’s intriguing that schools don’t pick them up, or that people don’t learn them by trial and error,”

Other concepts are zero support for the efficacy of different learning or teaching methods.

In one classic 1978 experiment, psychologists found that college students who studied a list of 40 vocabulary words in two different rooms — one windowless and cluttered, the other modern, with a view on a courtyard — did far better on a test than students who studied the words twice, in the same room. Later studies have confirmed the finding, for a variety of topics.

Varying the type of material studied in a single sitting — alternating, for example, among vocabulary, reading and speaking in a new language — seems to leave a deeper impression on the brain than does concentrating on just one skill at a time. Musicians have known this for years, and their practice sessions often include a mix of scales, musical pieces and rhythmic work. Many athletes, too, routinely mix their workouts with strength, speed and skill drills.


The finding undermines the common assumption that intensive immersion is the best way to really master a particular genre, or type of creative work, said Nate Kornell,

Cognitive scientists do not deny that honest-to-goodness cramming can lead to a better grade on a given exam. But hurriedly jam-packing a brain is akin to speed-packing a cheap suitcase, as most students quickly learn — it holds its new load for a while, then most everything falls out.

Sheldon - Posted - 09/06/2010:  13:52:02

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At the rate new informatioin is coming about maybe cramming is the best practice. The old info has been flushed and your brain is ready and waiting for the new stuff . . .

Sheldon

Paul R - Posted - 09/06/2010:  15:13:18

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Well, it certainly seems to go along with other truisms, such as "variety is the spice of life' - just in another facet of living. It also seems to go along with the notion that getting a liberal arts education produces people better adjusted to management tasks than those trained in a single discipline. It also follows the idea that diversity is good - whether in the natural environment or in neighbourhoods (read Jane jacobs). We also know that learning takes place in a variety of ways. Some kids can learn to read phonetically, but some will learn more effectively with other strategies, and a combination will usually work even better. Thus, teachers will provide alternate teaching/learning modes. So perhaps varying the setting is just another potential teaching tool.

Thanks for this, Mike.

davidtoc - Posted - 09/06/2010:  19:16:38

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Perhaps this means it also good to practice on a variety of different banjos, and I can use it to rationalize--uh, I mean justify certain purchases....

JonT - Posted - 09/06/2010:  20:25:08

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Very interesting indeed. This will inform the way I work as I continue on with my lessons!

Deaf David - Posted - 09/06/2010:  21:18:29

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My daughter is taking Japanese for her foriegn language requirement at U.K. (Go Big Blue!!) and is starting to realize why they call it foriegn. I sent the article to her.

Studying too long at a stretch in one place was never a problem for me.

Brian T - Posted - 09/06/2010:  22:13:40

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minstrelmike: your last sentence sums it up. I was a university student for so long that my very psyche is geared to 50 minutes. Then, I MUST get up and do something absurdly different for 10 minutes, then back to the books. After 11 years as a student, a Post-Doc and a darn good prof-job for 31 years, I think I did well (if that's the direction to which you aspire.)
United States Navy attention span tests claim that 45 minutes and your head is full. I agree.

minstrelmike - Posted - 09/07/2010:  05:57:44

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quote:

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Originally posted by Brian T...United States Navy attention span tests claim that 45 minutes and your head is full. I agree.

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Must be why music sets only last 45 minutes ;-)

Brian T - Posted - 09/07/2010:  08:15:38

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That could very well be. The USN has a large (captive?) group of subjects. Such agencies also have the intention of being obsessively thorough. Consequently, I'll take their word for it.