Make it stick, the science of successful learning

  1. Learning is misunderstood
  1. To learn, Retrieve
  1. Mix up your practice
  1. Embrace difficulties
  1. Avoid illusions of knowing
  1. Get beyond learning styles
  1. Increase your abilities
  1. Make it stick

Claims we make in this book

Empirical evidence versus theory, lore, and intuition

People misunderstand learning

Early evidence

Illusions of knowing

Knowledge: not sufficient, but necessary

Testing: dipstick versus learning tool

The takeaway

Reflection is a form of practice

The testing effect

Studying the testing effect in the lab

Studying the testing effect "in the wild"

Exploring nuances

The takeaway

The myth of massed practice

Spaced practice

Interleaved practice

Varied practice

Developing discrimination skills

Improving complex mastery for medical student

These principles are broadly applicable

The takeaway

How learning occurs

Encoding

Consolidation

Retrieval

Extending learning: updating retrieval cues

Easier isn't better

How effort helps

Reconsolidating memory

Creating mental models

Broadening mastery

Fostering conceptual learning

Improving versatility

Priming the mind for learning

Other learning strategies that incorporate desirable difficulties

Failure and the myth of errorless learning

An example of generative learning

Undesirable difficulties

The takeaway

Two systems of knowing

Illusions and memory distortions

Mental models

Unskilled and unaware of it

Tools and habits for calibrating your judgement

Active learning from the get-go

Successful intelligence

Dynamic testing

Structure building

Rule versus example learning

The takeaway

Neuroplasticity

is IQ mutable?

Brain training?

Growth mindset

Deliberate practice

Memory cues

The takeaway

Learning tips for student

Practice retrieving new learning from memory

Space out your retrieval practice

Interleave the study of different problem types

Other effective study strategies

Tips for lifelong learners

Retrieval practice

Generation

Reflection

Elaboration

Tips for teachers

Explain to student how learning works

Teach students how to study

Create desirable difficulties in the classroom

Be trasparent

mary pat wenderoth, biology professor, university of washington

Michael D. Matthews, Psychology professor, U.S. military academy at west point

Kathleen McDermott, psychology professor, washington university at St. Louis

Columbia, illinois, Public school district

Tips for trainers

In-service training

Kathy maixner, business coach

Farmers insurance

Jiffy lube

Andersen windows and doors

Inner gate acumpuncture