"Better Ways to Learn"

Lara Parker-Pope's “Better Ways to Learn” presents a strong argument that studying in several separated sessions can improve performance on tests as well as make the information learned more permanent. Nowadays many students cram study: they memorize material the night before the test, and it quickly is forgotten. This is because the brain marks the information as unnecessary. “Another technique is called distributed learning, or ‘spacing,’ and it’s a particularly relevant aspect of brain science for ambitious students. (Parker-Pope)” Parker-Pope goes further to compare it to watering a lawn; watering in intervals produces better results than watering all at once. Although it sounds as if it could take more time, scientific research proves that this method of studying is more reliable and results in better long term memory of the subjects. By using this approach to studying one can become a better learner and student. Another valuable lesson from her article is the benefit of sleep. On a more detailed level, “the first half of the sleep cycle helps with retaining facts; the second half is important for math skills. (Parker-Pope).”