Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Learning better by seeing it twice

Going to art shows or galleries we saw that images that had been advertised got the most attention. When we visited large museums we realized that one visit wasn't enough. For example, during a day at the Prado in Madrid we started with a cursory run-through, ate an early lunch outside, and returned for an intense afternoon of study and reflection. 

I think it's the same way with science. The material we cover in lectures can't be understood by just taking notes, no matter how thorough the notes or how carefully students have been listening. And coming back to those notes a few days before the exam is never adequate. By then the story line has gone in so many directions it's hard to get a handle on exactly what transpired during all those weeks. 

I ask my students, urge them in fact, to re-read their notes at the end of the day they wrote them. Every day we have lecture I want my students to go back to their notes, starting with the first lecture, and review what they've written all the way up to the most recent lecture. This shouldn't take more than fifteen minutes or so. 

During lecture I ask my students to sketch, draw arrows to things that are connected, circle important phrases, and sometimes, to put questions I interject in parentheses after a statement. All of these are mnemonic devices to encourage deep understanding of the material. But no matter how fresh and agile their brains, if students come back to these notes too long after they've written them, the signal is weakened. It's too hard to pick up the scent of a concept. 

It's kind of nerdy to study this way. I know I never managed to do it. But I didn't care as much about my grades as these students do. So when I see my students in lecture today I'll ask them, "What study technique did I mention during the last lecture?" They'll probably answer, "contemplation?" "analysis?" "observation?". Nice sounding answers and all part of learning. But if they had re-read their notes from last time they'd know. Study it twice to learn it better. 

27 comments:

  1. I understand the requirements for the challenge and will be studying it twice to learn it better!

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  2. I understand it will be easier to study this way because after looking at the information so many times it will be engrained in my memory much better than when i sit down to study a couple days before the exam for the first time!

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  3. I understand and accept the requirements for the challenge! Thanks for giving us this opportunity to improve our grade!

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  4. I understand and accept the challenge! Thanks for this opportunity!

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  5. I understand and accept the challenge. I also agree with your blog post that the course material tells a story, and by studying after every lecture, one will easily be able to recite all part and details of that story.

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  6. I agree and accept the challenge thanks for letting us try this!

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  7. Got it! I'll be studying the lecture notes in the evening after each lecture in order to better understand and memorize the information.

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  8. I agree to the conditions and requirements of this challenge. And I agree, it is better to study twice and still have the scent of the concept throughout the semester!!

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  9. I understand and will reread my notes after every lecture.

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  10. I understand and accept the challenge! Thanks for this opportunity!

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  11. I understand the challenge and am excited to participate!

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  12. I understand and accept the challenge! I will reread my notes after every lecture!

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  13. I understand the conditions and challenge.
    Gabrielle Kanellos

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  14. I understand and accept this challenge!

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  15. I understand and accept the challenge! Thanks!

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  16. I understand the challenge, and I accept. I will reread my notes after every lecture.

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  17. I understand and agree to accept these terms!

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  18. I fully understand and accept the challenge. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to improve our study skills!

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  19. I understand and accept the challenge! Thank you!

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  20. I understand and accept the challenge. Thank you!

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  21. I understand the challenge and am will look over my notes everyday after lecture.

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  22. I understand the challenge, and I started looking back over yesterday's lecture last night!

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  23. I understand the challenge and I am prepared to review the material at least twice a week!

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  24. Challenge accepted! I will be reviewing the material from class at least twice a week.

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  25. I accept the challenge and plan on learning better by seeing the material twice.
    - Christian Orellana

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  26. I understand and accept your challenge and will review the material at least twice a week.

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