Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning – Productivity Book Group

Productivity Book Group [ http://productivitybookgroup.org ] discussed Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, [ http://amzn.to/1P3lZkr ] by Peter C. Brown, et al. Enjoy the discussion!

The Amazon book description states:

To most of us, learning something “the hard way” implies wasted time and effort. Good teaching, we believe, should be creatively tailored to the different learning styles of students and should use strategies that make learning easier. Make It Stick turns fashionable ideas like these on their head. Drawing on recent discoveries in cognitive psychology and other disciplines, the authors offer concrete techniques for becoming more productive learners.

Memory plays a central role in our ability to carry out complex cognitive tasks, such as applying knowledge to problems never before encountered and drawing inferences from facts already known. New insights into how memory is encoded, consolidated, and later retrieved have led to a better understanding of how we learn. Grappling with the impediments that make learning challenging leads both to more complex mastery and better retention of what was learned.

Many common study habits and practice routines turn out to be counterproductive. Underlining and highlighting, rereading, cramming, and single-minded repetition of new skills create the illusion of mastery, but gains fade quickly. More complex and durable learning come from self-testing, introducing certain difficulties in practice, waiting to re-study new material until a little forgetting has set in, and interleaving the practice of one skill or topic with another. Speaking most urgently to students, teachers, trainers, and athletes, Make It Stick will appeal to all those interested in the challenge of lifelong learning and self-improvement.

About the Authors

Peter C. Brown is a writer and novelist in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Henry L. Roediger III is James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis.

Mark A. McDaniel is Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Integrative Research on Cognition, Learning, and Education (CIRCLE) at Washington University in St. Louis.

Our next reading selections are:

PBG - Switch - May 2016 - Chip and Dan Heath

5/28/2016 Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath, Dan Heath

PBG - Resilience - June 2016 - Mark McGuinness
6/25/2016 Resilience: Facing Down Rejection and Criticism on the Road to Success by Mark McGuinness

PBG - Stuffocation - July 2016 - James Wallman

7/30/2016 Stuffocation: Why We’ve Had Enough of Stuff and Need Experience More Than Ever by James Wallman

Show Notes:

(Please listen to understand the context of the resources provided. If we missed something, please comment on the episode and let us know!)

Education concepts:

  • Common Core
  • Montessori schools
  • PBL = Project Based Learning

Media/Books:

[Thanks to Bonnie Bouman for the Show Notes for this episode!]


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