Help students study smarter, not harder

August 28, 2019 Pooja K. Agarwal

Students often study by re-reading their textbooks, highlighting information, and/or reviewing their notes. With typical study strategies, students focus on getting information “in,” with the hope that it sticks.

We’ve all had the experience of feeling like these methods work: if I cram and re-read and study my notes, I feel fairly confident that I know the information. And indeed, cramming pays off – we tend to do well on a test. So what’s the problem?

The problem is that typical study strategies lead to short-term learning. This common situation arises because of an assumption we make about memory: when information comes to mind easily and feels “fluent,” we’ve learned successfully. However, memory researchers have demonstrated that the opposite is true: when information comes to mind easily and feels fluent, it’s easy to forget. In other words, just because we learn something quickly and easily does not guarantee we’ll remember it.

Here are the best resources for students to power up their study habits and long-term learning using retrieval practice. With these practical resources created by scientists, students can study more effectively and more efficiently – study smarter, not harder. Unleash the science of learning and help your students become powerful students!

Study smarter, not harder

retrievalpractice.org/students

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

Here's a roundup of the best resources for students about studying and learning: Books, blogs, videos, and more. Check out our full list at retrievalpractice.org/students.

Study Strategy Tips for Educators

3 simple questions to start a conversation with students

Make flashcards more powerful with these 3 tips

Just because you're practicing an instrument doesn't mean you're learning

Podcasts & Videos for Students

Podcast by NPR Life Kit: How to do well (and be happy!) in college

Podcast episodes by the Learning Scientists

Our YouTube playlist of study strategy videos

Blogs for Students

The Learning Scientists, particularly their blogs on note-taking with laptops vs. handwriting, studying while listening to music, flashcards, and FAQs

Books for Students

College Smart: How to Succeed in College Using the Science of Learning

How to Learn: Effective Study and Revision Methods for Any Course