Actively Recalling Information from Memory Beats Elaborate Study Methods

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110121111216.htm

ScienceDaily (Jan. 21, 2011) — Put down those science text books and work at recalling information from memory. That's the shorthand take away message of new research from Purdue University that says practicing memory retrieval boosts science learning far better than elaborate study methods.

"Our view is that learning is not about studying or getting knowledge 'in memory,'" said Purdue psychology professor Jeffrey Karpicke, the lead investigator for the study that appears January 20 in the journal Science. "Learning is about retrieving. So it is important to make retrieval practice an integral part of the learning process."

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