Effective and Sustainable Learning: 4 Evidence-Based Strategies
When it comes to learning, there is an abundance of guides, tips, and tricks available. However, distinguishing between evidence-based methods and fleeting trends can be challenging. The key to making an informed decision lies in scientific evidence. This article explores well-researched learning strategies that stand apart from superficial techniques. Spaced practice, retrieval practice, interleaved practice, and elaborative interrogation are proven methods whose effectiveness has been validated by research. Implementing these four strategies not only promises greater learning success but also ensures sustainable knowledge acquisition, which is essential for effective learning¹.
I have recently delved deeper into the topic of effective and efficient learning strategies to enhance my own knowledge acquisition and to provide my students and course participants with scientifically grounded learning tips. This article summarises my findings. The descriptions of the four strategies are deliberately kept brief to provide a compact overview while encouraging readers to embark on their own learning journey with these strategies. The further reading links offer additional guidance.
Strategy 1: Spaced Practice
Instead of cramming for an exam at the last minute (often referred to as “binge learning”), it is more effective to spread out study sessions over time — a method known as spaced practice. By distributing learning activities across several sessions (e.g., one to two hours every two days) rather than engaging in a 12-hour study marathon, you can learn more effectively and retain information longer. The “spacing effect” that occurs shows that multiple learning sessions over a longer period lead to better long-term memory retention².
How to Apply Spaced Practice:
- Start Early: Review the syllabus and create a study schedule that begins several weeks before the exam. Continue studying regularly until the exam day.
- Study Regularly: Schedule regular study sessions (e.g., every two days) and review not only new material, but also previously learned content.
- Focus on Both Old and New: Reduce forgetting by practising both new and old material. Allocate your time accordingly (e.g., 75% for new content, 25% for revision).
Strategy 2: Retrieval Practice
After working through a set of slides, your notes, or a textbook, set them aside. Without looking at them, try to recall what you have just learned, either mentally or by writing it down. Essentially, you are giving yourself a test. Some information will come to mind easily, while other parts might be more challenging. You will realise what you understood and what you did not. After recalling as much as you can, check your course materials. Verify that the information you remembered is correct, and review the parts you could not fully recall or did not understand. Then, repeat the process³.
How to Apply Retrieval Practice:
- Create Practice Tests: Make your own questions, exchange them with a study partner, use questions provided by your lecturer, or find questions online.
- Use Flashcards: Write questions on flashcards (with the question on one side and the answer on the other). You can also create digital flashcards, print them out, or use flashcard software.
- Copy-Cover-Check Method: Cover your lecture slides, try to recall the information, and then uncover them to check. This method requires minimal extra work before starting the exercise.
Strategy 3: Interleaved Practice
Interleaved practice involves learning two or more related topics by switching between them, rather than focusing solely on one subject. For instance, if you are learning topics A and B, rather than studying only A on one day and B on the next, you integrate a mixture of both topics or alternate between them. This method is particularly effective for subjects that are related in some way⁴.
How to Apply Interleaved Practice:
- Do Not Switch Too Often: Plan study times of about an hour for different topics. For larger units, you can devote an entire day to one topic.
- Choose Related Topics: Ensure that the topics you are studying are related. Avoid jumping between very different subjects; instead, link similar topics together.
- Find a Study Partner: Interleaving works particularly well with a partner. Discuss the different topics with a study partner, find a shared understanding, and enhance the learning effect. Help each other fill knowledge gaps or overcome difficulties in understanding.
Strategy 4: Elaboration & Elaborative Interrogation
Elaboration refers to a learning method where ideas are explained and described in great detail. It also involves making connections between the material to be learned and linking it to your own experiences, memories, and daily life.
A specific method of elaboration is “elaborative interrogation”. The word “interrogation” means “asking questions”. When using elaborative interrogation, you ask yourself questions about how and why things work and then provide the answers. The specific questions you ask yourself depend partly on the topics you are studying (e.g., How does X work? Why does X happen? When did X occur? What caused X? What is the result of X? And so on)⁵.
How to Apply Elaborative Interrogation:
- Create a List: Summarise all the topics from the materials you need to learn.
- Ask Questions: Go through the list and ask yourself questions about how these ideas work and why.
- Find Answers: Search for answers in your learning materials (e.g., in textbooks, notes, or provided resources).
- Make Connections: Explain how ideas relate to one another by making connections between the different concepts you are learning. Think about similarities and differences.
- Make Connections: Explain how ideas relate to one another by making connections between the different concepts you are learning. Think about similarities and differences.
- Apply to Your Own Life: Describe how the ideas you have learned apply to your own life experiences or memories.
- Relate to Everyday Life: Observe your surroundings during the day and make connections to the ideas you have learned. This further supports the effective process known as the “spacing effect” described above.
This is an English translation of a blog post that was originally published in the author’s blog in German.
