Throw out your old studying habits?

Recent brain research suggests that much of the conventional wisdom about good study habits may actually be just plain wrong.  New York Times reporter Benedict Carey has written about research on learning and education and lists several suggestions for improving study time.  

Almost everyone has heard the advice to find a single, quiet place in which to study and to focus on one topic at a time.  According to the research, this approach is not the most effective.  One 1978 study found that college students who studied vocabulary words in two different rooms did better on a test than students who had studied in the same room.  Researchers think this occurred because of the brain's tendency to make unconscious associations with the differing surroundings and those associations cause more of the brain to engage, resulting in better retention of the information being studied.

Click inside for more information on the latest brain science approved studying tips.


In his New York Times article, Carey suggests that, in addition to studying in different rooms, students should do the following to maximize their studying:

• Vary what you study within a given topic.  For an English vocabulary test, for example, spend some time studying words and definitions, some time studying word usage, and some time studying synonyms and antonyms.
• Space out your studying (but not too far).  Instead of cramming (which can work for a test grade but rarely results in good long-term knowledge) break up study sessions into one hour chunks spread out over two or three days (but not weeks).
• Test yourself: this one is the most important.  Studies show that testing oneself has a major effect on learning. Use flashcards or online tools (or a friend) to self-evaluate your performance and find your weak spots.

For a briefer take on this than the New York Times article, see this article on NPR's website.