TEST, TEST, TEST

POST DATE January 24, 2011, 5 PM

Another article in the Times' excellent coverage of useful research on how we learn: To Really Learn, Quit Studying and Take a Test. Taking tests turns out to be a very effective mechanism for learning. Definitely something to consider when structuring one's courses.

The specific test mechanism looks pretty simple, and seems easy to turn into something one's students can do on their own:

The final group took a “retrieval practice” test. Without the passage in front of them, they wrote what they remembered in a free-form essay for 10 minutes. Then they reread the passage and took another retrieval practice test.

Your comment as been added.

1 Comment

tima on February 5, 2011 3:36 PM

Very interesting . In some courses, the professor wants to exercise your brain through.various test methods but i feel as if the word test is associated with grade and therefore we cram to do well and forget the core meaning of what we're studying. Thanks for sharing.