How do I maximize the retention of new materials?
Hey all, A lot of people read books one at a time, as for me, I have a number of trivia books I enjoy reading including some educational texts that provide informative topics ranging from science, art, literature, etc. I like to learn a lot from a variety of different sources. My question is that because I jump from one interesting topic to the next is it possible that I am being counter-productive? Is the onset of new knowledge going to offset my former knowledge? I feel like I am retaining the information I have learned thus far, but I tend to analyse my process too much and would like to know what your opinions are on this. Am I not going to retain as much because I am jumping from one topic to the next
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I learn and read about new things all the time, and I’ve retained just as much as I did before I started doing that. I don’t think you’ll retain any less by jumping from one topic to the next.
This reminds me of something I read recently in the NY Times about how to maximize retention in studying:
“Varying the type of material studied in a single sitting — 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…
The advantages of this approach to studying can be striking, in some topic areas. In a study recently posted online by the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology, Doug Rohrer and Kelli Taylor of the University of South Florida taught a group of fourth graders four equations, each to calculate a different dimension of a prism. Half of the children learned by studying repeated examples of one equation, say, calculating the number of prism faces when given the number of sides at the base, then moving on to the next type of calculation, studying repeated examples of that. The other half studied mixed problem sets, which included examples of all four types of calculations grouped together. Both groups solved sample problems along the way, as they studied.
“A day later, the researchers gave all of the students a test on the material, presenting new problems of the same type. The children who had studied mixed sets did twice as well as the others, outscoring them 77 percent to 38 percent. The researchers have found the same in experiments involving adults and younger children.”
So sounds like your varied approach might actually help rather than hurt. There’s more, but you can find it here
I just finished today a great kindle book on memory. This guy chases around the world meeting world competition memory champions and eventually enters a contest. It is very illuminating as to how the brain or memory/learning works. He eventually enters the US memory championship with little experience-very cool and inspiring book.
It’s called “Moon walking with Einstein”.
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i find that note cards are really usefull
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