Make it Stick：The Science of Successful Learning

Tomostofus，learningsomething"thehardway"implieswastedtimeandeffort.Goodteaching，webelieve，shouldbecreativelytailoredtothedifferentlearningstylesofstudentsandshouldusestrategiesthatmakelearningeasier.MakeItStickturnsfashionableideasliketheseontheirhead.Drawingonrecentdiscoveriesincognitivepsychologyandotherdisciplines，theauthorsofferconcretetechniquesforbecomingmoreproductivelearners.Memoryplaysacentralroleinourabilitytocarryoutcomplexcognitivetasks，suchasapplyingknowledgetoproblemsneverbeforeencounteredanddrawinginferencesfromfactsalreadyknown.Newinsightsintohowmemoryisencoded，consolidated，andlaterretrievedhaveledtoabetterunderstandingofhowwelearn.Grapplingwiththeimpedimentsthatmakelearningchallengingleadsbothtomorecomplexmasteryandbetterretentionofwhatwaslearned.Manycommonstudyhabitsandpracticeroutinesturnouttobecounterproductive.Underliningandhighlighting，rereading，cramming，andsingle-mindedrepetitionofnewskillscreatetheillusionofmastery，butgainsfadequickly.Morecomplexanddurablelearningcomefromself-testing，introducingcertaindifficultiesinpractice，waitingtore-studynewmaterialuntilalittleforgettinghassetin，andinterleavingthepracticeofoneskillortopicwithanother.Speakingmosturgentlytostudents，teachers，trainers，andathletes，MakeItStickwillappealtoallthoseinterestedinthechallengeoflifelonglearningandself-improvement.