Thoughts on learning

Forget what you know about good study habits, suggests this NYTimes article. It reviews different urban legends in the scholastic world to consider how much can a student learns from studying?

Instead of sticking to one study location, simply alternating the room where a person studies improves retention. The brain creates a neural scaffolding by associating various background sensations. When the outside context is varied, the information being studied is enriched, and this slows down forgetting

So does studying distinct but related skills or concepts in one sitting, rather than focusing intensely on a single thing — 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.

“The idea is that forgetting is the friend of learning,” said Dr. Kornell. “When you forget something, it allows you to relearn, and do so effectively, the next time you see it.”

The more mental sweat it takes to dig it out, the more securely it will be subsequently anchored.