Top 10 Most Effective Learning Strategies 10. Imagery for text

5. Concrete Examples

When teaching, use as many examples as possible, linking the content to each example. The connection between examples and concept should be made clear and detailed.

6. Dual Coding

Dual Coding is the strategy of using different media to teach and learn. For example, the use of diagrams, timelines, infographics, mindmaps, and colours helps students understand concepts and also remember them better. However, be careful not to use too many sources at the same time, as this may considerably increase pupils’ working memory load.

Retrieval Practice

You can see that Rosenshine, Dunlosky and the Learning Scientists all recommend the use of frequent quizzes as a way to help students bring information to mind and create stronger memory traces. Every time you answer a question and actively bring something back to mind, you are reactivating the memory changes and making them stronger. This is complete opposition to reading notes or revision guides, as these are passive ways of studying, in which students are absorbing information from the book without actually thinking about it.
Here are some of the ways you can stimulate your students engage in Retrieval Practice. Give them past papers to answer Create frequent low-stake quizzes Ask them to draw mind maps indicating the connection between ideas Give them braindump tasks, in which they need to write down or sketch everything they can remember about a topic without checking notes Ask them to explain the content to others Stimulate the use flashcards
Research by Dr Megan Sumeracki shows that one way is not better than the others. Listen to her explanation here.
However, the more variety of questions you give to students, the stronger their memory traces will be. It is easier to understand this if you think about a maze where the center is the exam question and the exit is the correct answer to that question. If pupils spend their revision answering the same question over and over again, they will only have one path that leads to the exit. If they practice multiple choice answers, long answers, drawing, oral explanation, and others, it is like they create multiple paths that take to the exit of the maze. Ultimately, they will be more prepared for exams and further learning.
Your students may be frustrated at the beginning because retrieval practice will feel more difficult and less useful than using passive strategies. It is supposed to be like this! We learn better when learning is effortful. Being “stuck” and finally moving forward is a great way to learn something and never forget it.

Final Words

So there you go. Our brain learns through physical and chemical changes in the brain cells that connect to other brain cells. The more and stronger connections we have, the closer to mastering a knowledge we are. The best way to get there is by actively trying to recall information, answering varied questions, and solving problems. It is even better to space out practice and interleave subjects.