What technique do I use for revision?
00:00:00After 10,000 hours of studying and using various revision techniques, I discovered the powerful technique called interleaving. It's a method that upgrades your revision process and makes you a more efficient learner. In this chapter, I'll explain what interleaving is and how to use it effectively.
What is interleaving?
00:00:45The Power of Interleaving Interleaving is a highly effective learning technique that improves memory, test performance, and the understanding of new concepts. It involves mixing different concepts and variations while learning instead of focusing on one concept at a time. The analogy used to explain this is practicing martial arts drills where the target paddle's position varies each time, training the ability to adapt in any situation.
Applying Interleaving in Learning In studying, interleaving means looking at a concept from multiple perspectives rather than just one. Instead of mastering one concept before moving on to another (blocked practice), interleaved learning involves comparing and contrasting different aspects or effects related to the same topic. This approach enhances understanding by examining situations from various angles such as normal versus disease conditions when studying muscle physiology.
Benefits of interleaving
00:04:22Interleaving involves comparing and contrasting concepts to form a better understanding. It helps the brain pay attention to characteristic information, making it more memorable. This method is different from traditional studying methods and protects against tricky questions by showing multiple angles.
The Research of Interleaving
00:06:35Interleaving is a powerful learning technique that enhances memory improvement and transfer. A recent systematic review found an effect size of 0.65 for memory improvement, which is considered moderately strong in the context of learning techniques.
Interleaving Rule 1
00:09:06To make interleaving effective, compare and contrast different concepts. Testing your knowledge using a variety of techniques is crucial. Avoid repeatedly testing your memory in the same way; instead, use different methods to explore concepts from new perspectives.
Interleaving Rule 2
00:10:01When interleaving, focus on variations rather than totally new concepts. The cycling between concepts should be similar enough to have similarities but different enough to distinguish them apart. For example, comparing mitosis and meiosis in biology is effective because of their similarities and distinct differences. However, comparing mitosis with photosynthesis is not useful due to very general similarities.
Interleaving Rule 3
00:11:51The rule of interleaving suggests comparing and contrasting concepts frequently, rather than studying them on separate days. Research shows that the benefit of interleaving diminishes when there's a long gap between sessions. It's more effective to compare and contrast ideas every 10 to 15 minutes.
Interleaving Rule 4
00:12:54Interleaving is effective for building knowledge over time, but it may not feel as quick as other techniques. Learning deeply and completely before moving on creates an illusion of rapid growth in knowledge, which is fragile and likely to fade. Interleaving builds more substantial knowledge like filling a bathtub rather than a test tube.