As I remember it, the back to school routine was filled with hope. I had my plans laid out for how I was going to do things better that year, how I would be more organized, and how successful I would be. I would buy all of my school supplies and get my planner drafted out with my study plans aligned. Well, most of those plans didn’t last as long as my parents probably would’ve liked when I was a teenager — when it came time to study, I found it so tedious and, frankly, wasn’t even really sure of what I was doing. How can I be sure if it’s a good use of my time if I don’t even know where to begin and where I’m going. The good news is that psychologists have answered the question about what method of studying is most effective.
In a fantastic article in Scientific American, the authors have reviewed over 700 studies about, well, our studies. Now, like me, I’m sure you’ll see some of your old study methods in there — for better and for worse.
What were the golden winners?
- Self-testing, when used in done in shorter, more frequent intervals over time.
- Distributed reviewing, the opposite of cramming. Doing reviews that are spread out.
- Elaborative investigation, asking “Why” something is elaborates on your learning.
Read the study and share the information with your kid, your spouse, and the teachers you are involved with. They aren’t necessarily being shown these studies, either. Hopefully this information will be helpful in your family being successful this upcoming year.
Alex Michaud. Counseling Denver for a Better Life.