Education Archives

Make It Stick: Book Overview & Key Takeaways

What is the book Make It Stick about? How can applying the book’s lessons help become more effective at learning? In their book Make It Stick, co-authors Henry L. Roediger III, Mark A. McDaniel, and Peter C. Brown teach you the strategies that help you achieve the two primary goals of learning: to understand and remember what you learn so you can use your knowledge in future situations. Drawing from a vast number of research studies, they discuss the most effective learning strategies and caution against learning techniques that turn out to be counterproductive. Read all about the key concepts

Learning Comprehension: Understand, Don’t Memorize

What exactly is learning comprehension? What role does comprehension play in learning? Is there anything you can do to comprehend and absorb new knowledge faster and more effectively? In the context of learning, comprehension refers to gaining a deep understanding of the underlying principles in order to understand how they apply to different situations. There are two steps to improving your comprehension of the learning material: 1) rule learning and 2) structure building. Learn more about how you can put them to use to help you learn and study more effectively.

Models of Intelligence: Measuring IQ and More

How do you measure intelligence? Do you think it’s possible to come up with an objective and all-encompassing metric of intelligence? If the purpose of learning is to move through life more effectively, the measure of your intelligence should be how well you navigate each day. But, for many reasons, people want a way to quantify cumulative intelligence. There are several models of intelligence that people have developed to understand this. Read more about the most famous and influential models of intelligence and how they compare.

Learning Myths: How They Can Impede Your Progress

Does learning come easy to you? How do you judge your own learning competence? Do you have any beliefs about learning that could be sabotaging your progress? In order to learn effectively, you must first clear away the illusions and myths that impede your drive to learn. Misperceptions about your competence and myths about your ability to learn can both inhibit you from pursuing greater levels of knowledge. Read more about common learning myths and how they sabotage your ability to learn.

Understanding the Psychology of Learning

How do we learn? What are the processes that allow us to encode knowledge into the brain? Psychologists conceptualize three stages of learning: 1) encoding, 2) consolidation, and 3) retrieval. At the encoding stage, the brain creates mental representations of the information. Then, it consolidates it by transferring it from short-term to long-term memory. Finally, it cements the knowledge to make it available for retrieval. Learn more about the psychology of learning, what happens at each stage, and how new information is embedded in the brain at the cellular level.

Can You Increase Your Intelligence? Science Says Yes

Can you increase your intelligence? Or is IQ fixed at birth? Is human IQ genetically predetermined or can it be improved? Contrary to what many people think, your IQ isn’t predetermined. In fact, Americans’ average IQ has risen over time, likely because of changes in nutrition, schools, and culture. Learn about the factors that affect your IQ and some strategies for improving your intelligence.

Spaced Practice Method: Level Up Your Learning Game

What is spaced practice? How does spaced practice compare to cramming (learning a large amount of information in a very short period of time)? Which technique is more effective and why? Spaced practice is a study technique that involves multiple short study sessions spaced out over time. Spaced practice develops your “underlying habit strength,” which prepares you to use that knowledge when you need it. It may feel less productive than cramming initially because you’ve forgotten some of the material and it feels like you don’t have a grasp of it—but that extra effort is precisely what makes the method

Interleaved Practice: Mixed Learning Helps Retention

What is interleaved practice? How does it compare to mass practice? Which method is more effective and why? Interleaved practice is a study technique where you alternate between several topics or skills, instead of focusing on one thing at a time. Although it may seem counterproductive to study this way, interleaved practice is actually more effective than massed practice because it boosts retention and emulates real life—where you’ll encounter situations that require a mix of different skills and knowledge. Keep reading to learn about interleaved practice and why it’s more effective than mass practice.

Adler and Van Doren: What Is Good Reading?

According to the authors of How to Read a Book, what is good reading? Why is it important to read for comprehension rather than passively? In their book, Adler and Van Doren assert that good reading is active rather than passive. They talk about the importance of reading for comprehension rather than just grasping the surface level and they believe that the best books challenge you and force you to grow. Continue below to learn what good reading is, according to Adler and Van Doren.

How to Read a Book: Using External Resources

How and when should you use external resources when you’re reading a book? Is it okay to rely on outside help, or should you try to read a difficult book on your own? In their book How to Read a Book, Adler and Van Doren believe that you should struggle through a book as much as you can on your own. However, when you really need help understanding the material, there are some tools you can use to aid your understanding. Below are the external resources that Adler and Van Doren recommend using.