We are not taught how to learn in school, we are taught how to pass tests. The spacing effect is a far more effective way to learn and retain information that works with our brain instead of against it. Find out how to use it here.
I find this method is particularly useful when I’m learning a new programming language or framework or something, and this article also has a neat breakdown on how memory works. If you spend a lot of time learning or studying, this is definitely worth a read (or preferably several reads at different intervals 😉) to help you make studying more effective.
If you don’t want to read a bunch of backstory about memory and the research behind it, you can skip to the end of the article for the section “Taking Advantage of the Spacing Effect” on how to implement the Spacing Effect in your studies.
“Learning through rote memorization is tedious and—more important—ineffective.” “This is where the spacing effect comes in. It’s a wildly useful phenomenon: we are better able to recall information and concepts if we learn them in multiple, spread-out sessions. Spaced repetition might not have the immediacy of cramming or the adrenaline rush of a manic all-nighter. But the information we learn from it can last a lifetime and tends to be effectively retained.”
