Teach Effectively!

For folks who are thinking about teaching students how to study for tests: Under the headline “Step Away From the Highlighter,” JJ Hermes published a brief article on the topic.

Does this sound familiar? Final exams start soon, and the pile of notes, highlighted textbooks and old exams has turned into a mountain.

To help students get through this intense study period, we asked experts to provide tips based on the latest research on memory and learning.

The two experts, one of whom is my colleague Dan Willingham, offer some good recommendations. Here is a list (see the article for explanations):

• The worst way to study is simply to read over notes
• Stop indiscriminately highlighting everything you think is important
• Alternate subjects until two days before the first test
• Study each subject in blocks, and take a break
• Don’t give up sleep
• Study throughout the year

Link to Ms. Hermes’ article.