The authors tell us that going over and over something is “a time-consuming study strategy that yields neglibile benefits at the expense of much more effective strategies that take less time.” (15) What works better? Quizzing yourself, or writing a summary paragraph about possible applications, or drawing diagrams, or even using flash cards. This remarkable book was written by cognitive scientists and a professional writer. It’s grounded in research, and yet it’s a pleasure to read. Once or twice a year, I come across something that changes how I do things. This book has already started to shake things up.
Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roedigerr III, and Mark A. McDaniel, Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2014), 21.