3 Ways to Learn More Efficiently and Boost Grades

Studies of human learning reveal that the most durable learning with the least degradation (forgetting) occurs with the following 3 techniques:

1. Spacing:

Distribute studying a topic over long periods of time. In other words don’t cram (also known in educational circles as “massing”). Dr. Robert Bjork a leading expert in the field of learning states that information presented repeatedly over spaced intervals is learned & retained much better than information presented without intervals.

image courtesy of http://www.gwern.net/Spaced%20repetition

In this context, not all time is created equal. For example, you will learn more by studying a topic an hour tonight, an hour over the weekend, & another hour one week from now than you would studying the same topic 3 hours in a row.   The reality of this technique is that you are getting more out of studying spacing those 3 hours of study time than you would doing 3 hours in a row. That is efficiency. This is a simple concept that appears obvious at first but most students have trouble executing it. The key is to not wait too long between intervals & risk forgetting the information, as you will waste time relearning material. Review material you covered previously in lecture 3-4 times at “spaced” intervals prior to the test. Why does it work?

It gives material time to sink in, forces you to recall what you learned, it forces you to pinpoint and correct misunderstandings.

2.  Interleaving:

The picture below is not what we mean.

image courtesy of : http://montrealzen.com/?m=201301

Interleaving means alternating the topics you study. Study a variety of topics over a day or week rather than blocking study time on a single topic and then moving on to the next topic.

image courtesy of: https://belmontteach.wordpress.com/tag/memory/

Don’t study one topic for too long. Interleaving and Spacing go hand in hand. Interleaving makes spacing between topics more efficient. This technique has the added benefit of helping you think like a physician. When you take a board exam or see a patient you are expected to be able to “jump” from one organ system to another or go from pathophysiology to pharmacology in order to solve a problem.

Despite the weight of evidence in favor of these strategies, students often perceive they are less effective because the benefit of these strategies may not be obvious in the short run. Most underestimate how effective spacing is. Most students when asked which study method is perceived as more effective most choose cramming but reality is you retain much more information with Spacing & Interleaving.

3. Self-Testing

Test What You Know. After reading a chapter try to recall what you understood. Adopting an active learning style implies reviewing the material using self-testing to figure out what you know and don’t know so that later you can focus on learning the missing pieces of knowledge. This exercise helps organize information & allows you to make connections while guiding further study efforts. Self-testing improves your ability to retain the information it is also a chance to practice your critical thinking skills which improves durability in learning. Tips for self-testing:

• After reading material ask yourself, “What have I learned & how is this useful?”
• Look at the material in different ways by exposing as many of your senses as possible. Write notes, Talk about what you learned to your study group, Listen to recorded lectures, & seek visual aids that will help you retain the concepts.
• Try to formulate questions you think will be on the exam. This process comes easier if you use practice questions in your daily or weekly study regimen. The process of doing practice questions exposes you to the format & way examiners think when putting together questions, something called exam schemata.
• Use question banks! Practice questions, practice questions, practice questions. Don’t be afraid to use this great resource to apply knowledge.  I find most students who have trouble with exams in medical school don’t use question banks. Some students don’t use them because they don’t want to “run out of questions” come USMLE board exam time. Don’t worry about that, there are plenty of questions to go around. I can name about 3-4 board exam practice question providers that you can use.  Also, don’t spare the cost. Think of practice questions as an investment with huge academic returns now & big financial return in your future career.

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