Retrieval Learning Practice for Student Success
When I was in college I decided to try self-testing to see if it would improve my grades. I created my own practice quizzes and answered the questions before I was tested on the material by my professors. The result was that my retention of material and grades improved. I also forgot less information over a semester compared to how I was doing before.
There are now many research studies which have demonstrated that self-testing is a powerful and effective method of learning. In the book, Make It Stick: The Secret of Successful Learning, the authors review numerous research studies that validate the effectiveness of self-testing or “retrieval learning practice” for students. Self-testing can take the form of flash cards, creating practice quizzes or writing summaries of the main ideas.
Self-testing is a retrieval practice for recalling facts and ideas from memory and is a more effective strategy than re-reading according to many studies which are referred to in Make It Stick. Retrieving information strengthens memory and interrupts forgetting. It strengthens neural pathways and makes it easier to recall the information in the future. The learning is deeper and more lasting. The other advantage of self-testing is that students can identify what they do not know or have forgotten. It gives students a realistic picture of what they remember and understand about the material so that they can improve.
In addition to encouraging students to do their own self-testing, educators can give practice quizzes and/or frequent short quizzes as part of their grade. One college professor who was mentioned in Make It Stick was in the habit of giving students only a mid-term and final exam during the semester. He was dissatisfied with overall student attendance and grades. This professor decided to try a different approach and he replaced the two major exams with quizzes every week. Student attendance, grades, retention and understanding of material increased significantly.
One study cited in the book was done with an eighth grade science class. One group of students reviewed all of the course material three times during the semester. The second group of students were given low-stakes quizzes with feedback three times during the semester. The first group of students averaged a C- in the course. The group of students who took the low-stakes quizzes averaged an A- in the course.
Whether you are a student, educator or someone interested in improving your capacity to learn, using self-testing as a learning strategy is worth a try. Let me know how it goes.
Article written by Raymond Gerson
Brown, Peter, Roediger, Henry and McDaniel, Mark. Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning. Harvard University Press. 2014.
Raymond Gerson is an adjunct professor of college and career success courses at Austin Community College. He is author of Achieve College Success and Achieve Career Success and trains educators how to teach these strategies.
http://www.raymondgerson.com
http://www.collegereadiness.org
